Manchester City in Talks With Liverpool Over £85m Cody Gakpo Deal

Manchester City have made formal contact with Liverpool over a proposed £85 million deal for forward Cody Gakpo, with the Dutchman reported to have already agreed personal terms on a move to the Etihad Stadium.

Talks between the two clubs picked up steam over the weekend, with Liverpool valuing Gakpo at around £85 million, roughly double the £37 million they paid PSV Eindhoven to sign him back in January 2023. City are believed to have moved decisively after Gakpo, who had also attracted interest from Tottenham, opted to pursue a move to the Etihad instead. Sources indicate City are preparing to table their full package imminently, with the deal advancing rapidly in the closing days of the window.

Liverpool's willingness to sanction the sale hinges on their ability to bring in further attacking reinforcements before Tuesday's deadline. The club have already all but completed a deal worth up to £123 million for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, and remain in the market for another wide option, having seen a £50 million bid for Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr rejected and pulled out of a pursuit of Brighton's Yankuba Minteh after the Seagulls demanded £80 million.

Gakpo started Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at the weekend and set up Alexander Isak's equaliser, but head coach Andoni Iraola remained non-committal when asked about the winger's future afterwards, saying only that he expected clarity on his squad once the transfer deadline had passed. With Hugo Ekitike sidelined until 2027 through a ruptured Achilles and Isak still finding full fitness, Liverpool face a delicate balancing act between cashing in on Gakpo and maintaining sufficient attacking depth for the season ahead.