A wanted man – but would Liverpool’s Gakpo be a good fit at Spurs?
Tottenham Hotspur have identified Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo as a potential transfer target as manager Roberto de Zerbi looks to reshape his attacking options. Any deal would be complicated, as Liverpool are wary of weakening their forward line following Mohamed Salah's exit and with Hugo Ekitike still recovering from an Achilles injury, while the Reds are themselves chasing Paris St-Germain's Bradley Barcola.
Although primarily used on the left for Liverpool, Gakpo has often played centrally as a false nine, a role De Zerbi is said to value for its tactical flexibility and fit with his system of movement and combination play. Despite scoring just seven Premier League goals last season, his lowest return at Anfield, underlying data shows he remained among Europe's most productive wide forwards, ranking in the 98th percentile for shot frequency and 96th for advanced attacking involvement among peers, and he was the league's most frequently offside player, a sign of his attacking intent. He also outperformed Tottenham's current forwards last season on expected goals, shots, assists and chances created.
- Spurs are considering a move for Liverpool's Cody Gakpo
- Liverpool are reluctant to sell given other attacking absences
- Data shows Gakpo remains highly productive despite fewer goals
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Tottenham are reportedly weighing up a move for Cody Gakpo, a Dutch forward currently playing for Liverpool, as head coach Roberto de Zerbi looks to freshen up his attacking options. Gakpo usually plays on the left wing but has also featured centrally, a role that suits De Zerbi's preferred style of play.
Any transfer would not be straightforward. Liverpool have already lost Mohamed Salah and have another forward, Hugo Ekitike, out injured, so they may be reluctant to sell Gakpo too. Liverpool are themselves trying to sign a replacement forward, Bradley Barcola, from Paris St-Germain, which adds another layer of complexity to how any deals might unfold.
Gakpo's goal tally dropped last season compared with previous years at Liverpool, which is part of why his long-term role there has come into question. Other statistical measures suggest he remained one of the more productive attacking players in his position across Europe, which is relevant to the debate over whether he would represent an improvement for Tottenham's forward line.