Gakpo's Role in Liverpool's New Plan After Transfer Saga
Cody Gakpo walked into this season with questions swirling around his future. He might yet walk out of it as one of the pillars of Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool.
The Dutch forward, fresh from an impressive World Cup with the Netherlands, spent most of the summer with one foot out of the door. Liverpool had quietly placed him in the “saleable if the price is right” bracket. Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur both circled. City, in particular, pushed hard in the final days of the window as they hunted a replacement for Savio.
For a brief moment, it looked done.
According to Dutch outlet Dagblad, Liverpool had already agreed the financial framework under which Gakpo could leave. Both City and Spurs were prepared to meet a package worth around €100 million. Gakpo chose City. The route was clear, the numbers lined up, the champions ready to move.
Then Liverpool slammed on the brakes.
As Dagblad reported, the collapse of the transfer “came as a complete surprise”. An agreement was in place, yet by Tuesday the message was blunt: Gakpo would not be allowed to join City. No late compromise. No alternative destination. “It now appears that there will definitely be no other deal,” the report stated.
Gakpo is understood to have spoken directly with Liverpool’s owners this week, partly to clear the air after the dramatic U-turn. From being the high-profile sale that would fund a reshaped squad, he has been flipped into something very different.
He is now part of the plan.
From expendable asset to key piece
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke reports that Liverpool have drawn up a “new plan” for Gakpo, with the 25-year-old now expected to play a “key” role for the rest of the campaign.
The logic is simple: they didn’t sign a replacement, and they didn’t want to lose his flexibility.
“Gakpo will be a key player for Liverpool this season, definitely,” O’Rourke said, pointing to a start that has already underlined his value. A goal against Newcastle on the opening weekend, a sharp assist against Nottingham Forest – early markers from a player who looks comfortable across the frontline.
That versatility has become the crux of Liverpool’s rethink. Gakpo can operate wide, drift inside, or drop into pockets between the lines. In a squad still adjusting to Iraola’s demands, that kind of tactical elasticity is gold.
“He’s such a versatile player for Liverpool, and I think that’s the key, Liverpool didn’t really want to lose that,” O’Rourke added. City were ready to pay “top dollar” for him, but the club stepped back from the brink. The manager’s stance carried weight.
According to O’Rourke, the late decision not to cash in is a clear reflection of Iraola’s view: the Spaniard simply did not want to lose the Dutchman. Not this season. Not when his running, movement and adaptability could shape any success Liverpool manage to carve out.
The transfer saga is over. The price tag talk is parked. For Gakpo, the message from Liverpool is now unambiguous: you’re staying, and you matter.
