Whilst all eyes at Anfield had been on our long, and drawn out, chase for highly rated Paris Saint-Germain and French international winger Bradley Barcola, another story doing the rounds pretty regularly on the speculation rumour mill concerned Cody Gakpo.
Another Busy Summer
It has been another pretty busy summer of big spending at Liverpool as new manager Andoni Iraola continues to get his feet established under what was former gaffer Arne Slot’s desk, and after last summer’s exploits in the market, we have also seen the arrivals of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna, along with a loan deal for Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo.
As we moved beyond Deadline Day’s 11pm window to get any further, and additional, deals over the line given the speculation that is still being regularly report today, one potential deal that we know has come to an end is that of Gakpo. Deadline Day probably cannot come quick enough now for fans who want to finalise their Premier League match betting predictions, and just enjoy the football that is to come, but there is only a few hours left before recruitment teams and fans everywhere can relax.
The 27 year old, 54 capped Netherlands international, moved to Liverpool back in the 2023 January window from PSV Eindhoven in a deal said to be worth between 40 and 50 million Euros, signing a five and a half year contract in the process. Since then he has gone on to make well over 100 starting appearances for the side, scoring 51 times and laying on a number of assists more, as we lifted the 2024/25 Premier League title and the 2023/24 EFL Cup.
Speculation Ends – Now Down To Business
Following on from all the speculation so far this window, it was confirmed earlier this week that talks had now officially been opened between both ourselves and Manchester City over a potential £80 million deal going through before the window closed for this summer. The sticking point from our side was that we were insisting that before any kind of deal would be rubber stamped and signed, that we first had a suitable replacement agreed and through the doors so that in the gaffer’s mind, we were not left short of depth and options in what will be another long season ahead.
Many had initially thought that this meant getting Barcola over the line officially and having him photographed in the shirt, but that was not the case as we wanted an additional, and further option, on top given Iraola’s plans for the campaign. Hence the subsequent moves for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh, and then Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr when any hopes of a deal with the Amex Stadium outfit fell down. With our move for Sarr similarly failing to progress as we would have hoped, ultimately we just pulled the plug on any potential Gakpo sale and returned to our original standpoint – that he was not for sale.
Paperwork Slowing Down Debut
With some time left on Deadline Day before the necessary paperwork needs to be in with the authorities and regulators, however short that may be, nobody should expect this deal to be revitalised as the Etihad Stadium outfit’s pivot to Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, paying a total £65 million transfer fee, brings an end to that chase from their direction as well.
It does not necessarily mean that we will not add that additional option ourselves, but Gakpo’s departure is now very unlikely to happen this window.
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