Liverpool's Transfer Market Moves: N’Guessan, Gakpo, and Sarr
Liverpool’s long game in the transfer market took another sharp turn as Fabrizio Romano delivered his trademark “here we go” on a deal for Saint-Etienne teenager Djylian N’Guessan – while Cody Gakpo edges towards a blockbuster move to Manchester City and the Ismaila Sarr chase rumbles on.
This is not a quiet end to the window at Anfield. It’s a reshaping.
Liverpool lock in N’Guessan for 2027
The headline move is one supporters won’t feel immediately, but the club clearly believes they will in time. N’Guessan, 18, will join Liverpool in the summer of 2027 after spending another season with Saint-Etienne, Romano confirmed.
The agreement follows the path of Lucca Brughmans – another signing filed under “for the future” – and fits Liverpool’s habit of investing early in emerging talent. N’Guessan, who can operate off the wings or through the middle as a centre-forward, has been on Saint-Etienne’s books with a contract running to 2027, but the French club have been open about the likelihood of a sale for their young star.
Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna first revealed on X that negotiations between ASSE and Liverpool had reached an advanced stage, with “last details to settle.” He later reported that Saint-Etienne were in deep talks with Liverpool over a player they regard as a major prospect, and that only hours remained to close the deal.
Those final details are now done. Romano reported that Liverpool secured authorization for N’Guessan’s medical and reached agreement on the player side as well. The teenager will remain in France for now, but his future is mapped out: Anfield in 2027.
Gakpo, City and a huge £85m question
While Liverpool quietly secure tomorrow, the future of one of today’s forwards hangs in the balance.
Gakpo has an agreement in place with Manchester City on personal terms, Romano revealed on his YouTube channel, with City already sending an £85m bid to Liverpool. That is serious money, even in this market, and it has forced a decision point at Anfield.
Liverpool’s stance is clear: they will only accept if they land a right winger before the deadline. No winger, no sale. The entire situation has turned into a high-stakes domino line. One move triggers the rest.
The club are already close to adding Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, with the winger completing his medical on Sunday, but that deal alone is not enough to green-light Gakpo’s exit. The hierarchy want a specific profile on the right before they consider cashing in on the Netherlands international.
Sarr emerges as the key piece
So who unlocks the Gakpo deal? Right now, all roads lead to Ismaila Sarr.
Romano says Sarr is ahead of Yankuba Minteh in Liverpool’s thinking. The Crystal Palace winger has become the “favourite candidate” as the Merseyside club hunt that crucial right-sided addition.
The pursuit has already hit resistance. Palace rejected a Liverpool offer earlier in the week – a written, official bid worth £45m plus £5m in add-ons, a £50m package in total. At that price, Palace are not selling.
Publicly, there were “zero links” between Sarr and Liverpool at first, but Romano insists the offer went in and was knocked back. Now, with the story out, the negotiation is in full view.
Palace’s stance remains firm for the moment. They are saying no to Sarr’s exit, while at the same time exploring winger options of their own in case a proposal lands that they cannot ignore. Sarr, for his part, wants the move. He wants Liverpool. The outcome now rests entirely with the two clubs.
Around them, the market swirls. Agents and clubs are flooding Liverpool with winger options, fully aware of the situation: if Gakpo is to join City, someone has to walk through the door at Anfield first.
Liverpool have already moved for the future in N’Guessan. The next few hours will decide whether they also tear up part of their present and hand Gakpo to a direct rival.
