Fabrizio Romano has revealed how much Manchester City are reportedly prepared to offer for Cody Gakpo as they aim to execute a headline-grabbing raid on Liverpool for the winger.
The Athletic reported on Saturday that the 27-year-old has decided to join Enzo Maresca’s side, with all parties now in talks to reach an agreement for the transfer to proceed, and he’s opted against joining long-time suitors Tottenham Hotspur.
The Dutchman’s prospective exit from Anfield comes at the same time that the Reds close in on the marquee signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain which could ultimately rise to £123m, making him our second most expensive acquisition of all time.
Man City ‘set to bid’ £85m for Gakpo
Late on Saturday night, Romano took to X with an update on Gakpo’s situation as Man City prepare to step up their pursuit of the forward in the form of an official offer.
He posted: ‘Manchester City are set to bid for £85m package to sign Cody Gakpo after the agreement with player’s camp. MCFC stepping up efforts to get the deal done as exclusively revealed tonight. City wait for Liverpool to approve sale when they find replacement.’
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Selling Gakpo would make Liverpool weaker
Some may argue that it’d be impossible for the Reds to turn down £85m for a player they signed for an initial £37m (potentially rising to £44m, via The Athletic) in December 2022, especially when he’s already 27 and theoretically unlikely to elicit a much higher resale value from hereon.
However, from a footballing perspective, selling one of our most in-form players to a domestic rival with less than 72 hours remaining in the transfer window is near-impossible to comprehend, especially when Andoni Iraola has openly declared that he needs a bigger squad.
Gakpo has begun the season excellently, scoring in the 2-2 draw at Newcastle last week and providing a brilliant assist for Alexander Isak to equalise against Nottingham Forest yesterday, with the Dutchman putting the struggles of last term firmly behind him.
Barcola might be an automatic selection on the left flank once his imminent move from PSG is confirmed, but Liverpool’s number 18 has proven capable of playing anywhere across the forward line, impressing on the right against Oliver Glasner’s team on Saturday.
In our opinion, there is a place for both of them at Anfield, rather than the arrival of one automatically having to prompt the other’s exit. Unfortunately, if Gakpo has decided that he wants to join Man City, there probably isn’t a whole lot more the Reds could do to sway him.
This feels like a prospective transfer which could leave LFC with a ton of regrets.
Gakpo is a decent player and would be a useful squad member, as he’ll be at City. That he is outstanding for us shows the level we have sunk to. Klopp turned Liverpool from also rans to Champions, but FSG allowed us to sink back to making up the numbers. Hughes is the prime culprit but aided and abetted by his bosses.
amen to that 100% ted , the reported return of edwards and the arrival at anfield of richard hughes i feel had a profound effect on klopps decision to leave , FSG have a lot to answer for !
bringing those 2 in plus then not fully researching a replacement manager for klopp and opting for arne slot brought about a decline in the team performance wise that a lot of players have not recovered from , i honestly believe edwards came back with an agebda to destroy klopps legacy , our league title in 24/ 25 season was done with klopps team playing klops way ,as soon as they switched to slots way everything went wrong , the money we blow on players last season who have not hit the ground running shows that hughes approach is more about him grabbing HEADLINES than actuall suitability to the team . FSG have lost sight of the direction klopp was steering us in and i think its time for john henry and co to pack up their laptops and statistics date and go . they are killing the club we love
Gakpo is a great player and his numbers speaks for themselves and I think he is going to become an even better player at City
If Liverpool sell Gakpo, the pressure will be like a ticking time bomb incase Isak gets injured. Ekitike is out till at least January. Cody Gakpo can play as a 9, Jadan Danns is an excellent reader of the game but prone to injury and could be going out on loan. I would keep Gakpo till at least January, you might not get as much money for him but you will at least have cover.
Gakpo has had his critics, but at the moment he’s our best player, he’s in the best form of his career.
He was excellent yesterday.
Does it make any sense to sell him to our rivals Manchester city, and he will be replaced by 28 year old ismalla sarr . Who will have no sell on value
The reason for this is FSG want more profit.
It will mean current net spend this summer is just 34 million.
You also have to look at squad depth and champions league fixtures coming soon. How is iraola expected to rotate with the current squad.
I can only see more defeats.
Two games played four conceded and we have been lucky to get two points.
There’s far worse to come. Better opponents.
Iraola wont last the season.