Manchester City are preparing a substantial offer for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo as they look to strengthen their attacking options with one of the Premier League’s most versatile forwards.
According to reports, City have already reached an agreement with Gakpo’s representatives over personal terms. Their next task is to persuade Liverpool to sanction the transfer, with the Manchester club reportedly readying an offer worth around £85 million, which would exceed €99 million.
Gakpo’s versatility is understood to be a major factor behind City’s interest. The Dutch international can operate on either flank and is also capable of playing as a central forward. That ability to cover several attacking positions makes him an attractive option for a side seeking greater flexibility in the final third.
A deal at the reported figure would also have wider significance for Dutch football. If completed for around £85 million, Gakpo would set a new record for the most expensive transfer involving a Dutch player. The existing benchmark is associated with Frenkie de Jong’s move from Ajax to Barcelona in 2019, when the initial fee was reported at €75 million, with a further €11 million potentially payable in add-ons.
Liverpool, however, are unlikely to consider Gakpo’s departure in isolation. The club would reportedly want an appropriate replacement in place before agreeing to sell the 24-year-old forward. That requirement could prove decisive as negotiations develop.
Liverpool have already been linked with significant attacking reinforcements. The club are reported to have reached an agreement to sign French forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of around £123 million. Despite that proposed addition, Liverpool are also understood to be seeking another winger to increase their attacking depth.
Crystal Palace forward Ismaïla Sarr has emerged as one of the leading candidates. Liverpool have reportedly submitted an offer worth approximately £50 million for the Senegal international as they assess options for strengthening the wide areas.
Sarr’s potential arrival could therefore have an important bearing on Gakpo’s future. Should Liverpool secure another attacking option, the club may become more willing to consider a sizeable offer from City. Until then, the Premier League champions are expected to weigh the sporting consequences of losing a player capable of contributing in several positions.
For Manchester City, meanwhile, the reported pursuit represents a significant investment in attacking quality. Gakpo’s ability to play across the front line would give the club another tactical option, while his experience in English football could make the transition considerably more straightforward.
The proposed transfer is therefore dependent on several moving parts rather than simply the size of City’s bid. Liverpool’s recruitment plans, the potential arrival of Sarr and the club’s assessment of its attacking depth could all influence whether Gakpo is ultimately allowed to leave Anfield.
If City succeed with their reported £85 million proposal, the transfer would represent a major statement in the market and potentially establish a new record for a Dutch player. For now, however, Liverpool hold the key to determining whether Gakpo remains at Anfield or begins a new chapter at the Etihad.
