Cody Gakpo is at the centre of a stunning late-window transfer battle after Manchester City opened talks with Liverpool for the Netherlands international. With Gakpo reportedly choosing City and an £85 million deal being discussed, should Liverpool really strengthen one of their biggest Premier League rivals?
By Abiodun Adewale Adeniyi | Founder & Editor, Beyond the Final Whistle
August 30, 2026 | Premier League | Transfer News
Manchester City have made a dramatic late move to sign Cody Gakpo from Liverpool, setting up one of the most fascinating deals of the closing days of the summer transfer window.
City formally contacted Liverpool on Saturday evening about the 27-year-old Netherlands international, with negotiations taking place ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
According to BBC Sport’s report on Manchester City’s Gakpo talks, Manchester City are Gakpo’s preferred destination if he leaves Anfield.
The Independent has gone further, reporting that Gakpo has chosen Manchester City amid interest from Tottenham, with a potential transfer worth around £85m being discussed.
But there is one crucial distinction.
Liverpool have not yet agreed to sell him.
And with so little time remaining in the transfer window, that decision could have major consequences for both clubs.
Why Manchester City Want Cody Gakpo
Manchester City’s interest makes considerable tactical sense.
Enzo Maresca has seen his attacking options reduced significantly following the departures of Savio and Omar Marmoush to Tottenham.
Sky Sports reports City didn’t have a recognised winger on their bench during Friday’s victory over Crystal Palace, with Phil Foden used out wide despite Maresca acknowledging that it isn’t his natural position.
Gakpo immediately solves several problems.
He can play on the left.
He can operate centrally.
And he can move between those positions during matches.
That versatility is extremely valuable for a coach like Maresca, who wants players capable of functioning in multiple roles.
At 27, Gakpo is also entering what should be the prime years of his career.
City wouldn’t be buying potential.
They would be buying a proven Premier League attacker who could contribute immediately.
Why Would Gakpo Leave Liverpool?
This is where Bradley Barcola becomes central to the story.
Liverpool have reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for Barcola in a package worth £106m upfront plus as much as £17m in add-ons.
The French winger is expected to sign a five-year contract running until 2031 once the remaining formalities are completed.
Barcola’s preferred position is also on the left.
That’s Gakpo’s strongest position.
Liverpool also signed Victor Muñoz this summer and have the highly rated Rio Ngumoha among their attacking options.
Suddenly, Gakpo can no longer be certain that he will remain first choice.
BBC Sport reports that he is aware his position in Liverpool’s hierarchy could change following Barcola’s arrival.
That creates an opportunity for Manchester City.
Instead of fighting Barcola for a starting position at Anfield, Gakpo could move to the Etihad and become part of Maresca’s rebuilt attack.
Liverpool Could Make an Enormous Profit
There is another reason Liverpool must seriously consider City’s approach:
money.
Liverpool signed Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 for approximately £35m.
A sale for around £85m would therefore represent an extraordinary return.
BBC Sport calculates that Liverpool could make roughly £50m above their original purchase price if negotiations reach that figure.
From a business perspective, that’s difficult to ignore.
Buy for £35m.
Get several productive seasons from the player.
Then potentially sell him for approximately £85m.
That is outstanding recruitment from a financial perspective.
But football isn’t played on spreadsheets.
And Liverpool have to consider who they would be selling him to.
Selling Gakpo to Manchester City Is the Real Problem
If Manchester City were a foreign club, Liverpool’s decision might be considerably easier.
But they’re not.
City are one of Liverpool’s direct domestic competitors.
Selling a proven Premier League attacker to a rival capable of challenging for major trophies creates an obvious risk.
Liverpool could receive £85m today and spend the next several seasons watching Gakpo score important goals for City.
That possibility cannot be ignored.
Gakpo already has 33 goals in 91 Premier League appearances and has demonstrated that he can operate effectively in several attacking positions.
He has also started the new season strongly.
Gakpo scored against Newcastle and then provided the assist for Alexander Isak during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Why strengthen Manchester City with a player already producing?
That is the uncomfortable question Liverpool must answer.
Virgil van Dijk Doesn’t Want Gakpo to Leave
One Liverpool player has already made his feelings clear.
Virgil van Dijk wants Gakpo to stay.
The Liverpool captain publicly described his Netherlands teammate as a quality player and made it clear he believes the club should keep its best players.
That reaction is understandable.
Gakpo has become an important member of Liverpool’s squad and has already contributed this season.
Van Dijk also knows what his international teammate can provide.
But Liverpool’s new manager Andoni Iraola has been far less definitive.
When questioned about Gakpo’s future following the Nottingham Forest match, Iraola refused to guarantee that the forward would remain at Anfield.
The manager effectively acknowledged that Liverpool’s squad could still change before the window shuts.
That has only increased speculation.
Liverpool Want Another Winger Before Selling Gakpo
Barcola’s arrival doesn’t necessarily mean Liverpool believe their attacking rebuild is finished.
This is important.
BBC Sport reports Liverpool would prefer to sign another forward before sanctioning Gakpo’s departure.
The Reds have shown interest in Ismaïla Sarr of Crystal Palace and Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh.
The Independent similarly reports Iraola wants greater depth in the wide positions despite Barcola’s impending arrival.
That means the final days of Liverpool’s transfer window could become extremely busy.
Barcola arrives.
Another winger potentially follows.
Gakpo leaves for City.
That would represent a remarkable transformation of Liverpool’s attack in a matter of days.
Barcola Has Changed Liverpool’s Transfer Strategy
The timing is impossible to ignore.
Manchester City’s move has arrived just as Liverpool are finalising the Barcola transfer.
That’s why our recent analysis of the Bradley Barcola to Liverpool deal becomes so relevant.
Editor’s note: Replace the homepage link above with your exact Barcola article URL before publishing, because I don’t want to invent an internal URL that you haven’t given me.
Barcola potentially gives Liverpool a younger long-term option on the left.
Gakpo turns 28 next year.
If Liverpool believe Barcola can become their first-choice left winger for the next five or six seasons, receiving around £85m for Gakpo could be viewed as excellent squad management.
But there is still risk.
Liverpool have already experienced attacking injury problems, and BBC Sport notes that Hugo Ekitike is sidelined until 2027 with a ruptured Achilles tendon, while Alexander Isak has had injury issues.
Selling a versatile forward in that situation reduces Liverpool’s insurance.
What Would Gakpo Give Enzo Maresca?
This may ultimately explain why City are prepared to spend so much.
Gakpo isn’t simply a left winger.
At Liverpool, he has demonstrated an ability to operate as a centre-forward and in deeper attacking positions.
That gives Maresca options.
Against teams defending deep, Gakpo can start wide and move into central scoring positions.
When City need more physical presence through the middle, he can operate closer to the striker.
And during transitions, his ability to carry the ball gives City another route toward goal.
We have already seen Manchester City aggressively rebuild their midfield following Rodri’s departure, including the arrival of Ayyoub Bouaddi and Elliot Anderson.
Adding Gakpo would continue that transformation further forward.
Maresca isn’t simply replacing individual players.
Manchester City are building a different team.
Is Cody Gakpo Worth £85 Million?
That’s debatable.
Gakpo is an established international with extensive Premier League and Champions League experience.
He’s versatile.
He’s entering his prime.
And Liverpool have him under contract until 2030, according to current reporting.
That gives Liverpool considerable negotiating power.
They don’t need to sell.
Manchester City therefore have to make the offer attractive enough for Liverpool to accept the competitive risk of strengthening a domestic rival.
From City’s perspective, £85m would be expensive.
But they would be acquiring a player who doesn’t require adaptation to English football.
That reduces some of the uncertainty normally associated with a major transfer.
The Biggest Question Is Liverpool’s Ambition
Liverpool now face a fascinating decision.
Take the money and continue rebuilding?
Or keep a proven attacker even if his starting opportunities could decrease?
There is an argument for selling.
£85m could finance another major signing, while Barcola potentially replaces Gakpo’s role immediately.
There is also a compelling argument for keeping him.
Liverpool need depth to compete domestically and in Europe.
Their Champions League 2026/27 campaign will place additional demands on Iraola’s squad.
And Liverpool’s attacking players have traditionally been expected to contribute heavily without the ball as well, something we previously explored in our Liverpool pressing tactics analysis.
Having Barcola and Gakpo might therefore be more valuable than simply choosing between them.
Final Verdict: £85m Is Tempting, But Selling to City Could Haunt Liverpool
From a financial perspective, Liverpool have every reason to consider Manchester City’s approach.
Turning a player purchased for around £35m into an approximately £85m sale would represent excellent business.
Barcola’s arrival makes the decision easier.
But the identity of the buyer changes everything.
Manchester City aren’t just another club.
They are a direct rival.
And Gakpo is already proven in the Premier League.
Liverpool could bank an enormous profit and still regret the transfer if Gakpo becomes a major player under Maresca.
For City, the logic is clear.
They need another versatile attacker following significant changes to their forward options.
Gakpo fits.
For the player, the situation is increasingly clear too.
Manchester City are his preferred destination if he leaves Liverpool, and today’s reporting indicates he has chosen City as negotiations continue.
But the most important piece remains unresolved:
Liverpool have not yet said yes.
Until they do, Cody Gakpo remains a Liverpool player.
With the transfer deadline approaching, that could change very quickly.
And if £85m eventually convinces Liverpool to sell, this won’t simply be one of the biggest deals of deadline week.
It could become one of the most consequential transfers in the Premier League title race.
What Do You Think?
Should Liverpool accept around £85 million for Cody Gakpo, or would selling him to Manchester City be a huge mistake?
And would Gakpo become an automatic starter under Enzo Maresca?
Share your opinion in the comments below.
By Abiodun Adewale Adeniyi, Founder & Editor of Beyond the Final Whistle. I am passionate about delivering well-researched football analysis, transfer insights, tactical breakdowns and honest opinions that go beyond the final score. My goal is to help football fans better understand the game while creating meaningful conversations around the biggest stories in football.
