Manchester City could hijack Tottenham Hotspur’s talks for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, with Fabrizio Romano having confirmed their surprise interest.
Wingers are proving to be the biggest topic of the final weeks of the transfer window, as Liverpool are locked in talks for Bradley Barcola and Yankuba Minteh, while Tottenham have agreed to sign Savinho from Man City for £85m. Spurs look set to make it a double swoop by also capturing Omar Marmoush from City for £50m.
Roberto De Zerbi wants Spurs to complete their attacking revamp by landing Gakpo from Liverpool.
The Reds are not pushing Gakpo out of the exit door but would consider major bids worth around £70m for the left winger.
Dutch outlet Soccer News were the first to reveal that City are providing Spurs with shock competition for Gakpo.
Their journalist, Mounir Boualin, reported that City had approached the player’s camp to gauge his interest in a possible switch to the Etihad.
Boualin added that City are ‘considering’ contacting Liverpool next, should they get the green light from Gakpo.
Boualin states that Spurs have had a £60m approach for the Dutchman rejected.
Romano has now weighed in on Spurs’ battle with City for Gakpo. ‘Manchester City made contact with Cody Gakpo’s camp today, as @MounirBoualin reported,’ he wrote on X.
‘Talks have started while Tottenham remain in active discussions for Cody and with personal terms in place. Race on.’
Romano added in a subsequent post: ‘Liverpool will only sell Cody Gakpo if they can get two wingers in next 8 days; priority remains Bradley Barcola.
‘Tottenham verbally agreed terms with Gakpo since July, Man City now also in active talks with his agents.
‘Player to decide but also based on #LFC wingers plans.’
Man City fighting Tottenham for Cody Gakpo
Signing Gakpo would help City to replace Savinho. New City boss Enzo Maresca will also be without Jeremy Doku for two to three weeks due to the Belgian’s calf injury.
According to Boualin and Soccer News, Spurs have offered Gakpo a ‘key role’, whereas City view him as a potential squad player.
If Gakpo is prioritising regular starts with his next move, then Spurs could have the advantage over City.
Plus, the Cityzens can no longer rely on legendary tactician Pep Guardiola to help them sign top players.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are aiming to strike a deal for PSG’s Barcola ‘this week’.
Plus, Andoni Iraola’s side have had bids for Minteh worth £50m and £60m rejected by Brighton and are now weighing up an offer closer to £70m.