Cody Gakpo's Potential Move to Spurs: Direct Talks with De Zerbi

Tottenham’s move for Cody Gakpo is no longer just background noise. It is organised, advanced and, crucially, now has the player’s ear.

Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink reports that the Liverpool forward held direct talks with Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi last month. The 27-year-old left those conversations open to the idea of swapping Anfield for north London, a shift that has sharpened focus on one of the window’s most intriguing potential deals.

Liverpool, too, are no longer shutting the door. Their willingness to consider a sale has grown, and that alone changes the landscape.

Direct talks with De Zerbi change the tone

Tottenham’s interest in Gakpo has been building for weeks. Voetbal International’s Joost Blaauwhof previously revealed that Spurs had formally registered that interest, with De Zerbi identifying Gakpo and Savinho as attackers who could offer different roles within his fluid front line.

Now comes the detail that matters most: communication between player and coach.

Elfrink posted on X that, according to a usually well-informed source, Gakpo has already spoken with De Zerbi. The conclusion from that meeting was clear – the Dutch international is “definitely open” to a move to Spurs. Elfrink added that Liverpool now “seems willing to go along with it” and that there is still “good money in it for PSV,” making the deal even more intriguing from a Dutch perspective.

That conversation is a key moment. Gakpo now knows exactly how De Zerbi plans to use him. Spurs know the player is on board with their project. It removes a major layer of uncertainty from any potential transfer.

The numbers: Liverpool hold the line

Interest and intent are one thing. Liverpool’s valuation is another.

SoccerNews report that Tottenham have already tested Liverpool’s resolve with an opening offer just over £60 million. That is not expected to be enough. Liverpool are understood to want around £70 million – a figure that would deliver a strong return on the fee paid to PSV Eindhoven when Gakpo arrived in January 2023.

If Spurs are prepared to edge closer to that number, this does not have to become a saga. The framework for a deal is simple: meet the price, and Liverpool will talk.

They have little incentive to sell on the cheap. Gakpo is a proven Premier League attacker, comfortable off the left, centrally, or across various roles in the final third. In a squad already dealing with major change, that versatility is not easily replaced.

Barcola pursuit looms over Liverpool’s call

One name could heavily influence Liverpool’s final decision: Bradley Barcola.

Andoni Iraola is reshaping his attacking options, and Liverpool’s pursuit of the Paris Saint-Germain winger has the potential to trigger further movement before the window shuts. If progress is made on Barcola, Gakpo’s future immediately becomes more fluid.

Liverpool must manage both squad balance and the financial picture. A substantial fee for Gakpo would bring obvious benefits, particularly if it directly funds a younger, high-upside signing like Barcola. But the timing is delicate. Offload Gakpo before securing a replacement and the risk spikes.

There is also a knock-on effect in Eindhoven. Elfrink notes that PSV would profit via the solidarity mechanism if Gakpo joins Spurs, giving the Dutch club a vested interest in seeing this move go through.

Spurs’ position strengthens, Liverpool’s dilemma deepens

From Tottenham’s perspective, the pieces are falling into place. They want the player. The head coach has made his pitch. Gakpo is open to the move. Liverpool, at the right price, are willing to engage.

Player interest does not guarantee a transfer, particularly when a selling club is firm on its valuation. But the main components are now visible. This is no longer a speculative link; it is a live negotiation waiting for a breakthrough on fee.

For Liverpool, the calculation is more layered. Gakpo can frustrate with inconsistency, and there have been stretches when his performances have dipped. Yet he still offers goals, Premier League know-how and tactical flexibility – assets that carry weight across a long, demanding season.

Add in the context: Mohamed Salah has already gone, Iraola is steering the club through another major transition, and Liverpool are still shaping their next attacking iteration. Letting another established forward walk out the door without a confirmed successor would be a bold – some would say reckless – step.

There is also the uncomfortable reality of the destination. Strengthening Tottenham, a direct Premier League rival, is not a decision to take lightly. De Zerbi clearly sees something in Gakpo; those early talks would not have happened otherwise. The last thing Liverpool need is to watch him thrive in white while they scramble to bed in a replacement who never quite lands.

£70 million would be strong business on paper. It only becomes good football business if Liverpool have the new signing through the door before Gakpo walks out of it.