Liverpool's Future Moves: N’Guessan Signed, Gakpo Could Depart

Liverpool have their next attacking project lined up. And, if everything else falls into place, they could soon be waving goodbye to Cody Gakpo as a major reshuffle gathers pace at Anfield.

N’Guessan deal sealed for 2027

Fabrizio Romano has delivered his trademark “here we go” on Liverpool’s move for Saint-Etienne prodigy Djylian N’Guessan, confirming that the club have struck an agreement to sign the 18-year-old forward.

The France youth striker will not arrive immediately. As Romano reports, N’Guessan will stay with Saint-Etienne for another season before joining Liverpool in the summer of 2027, with the player side of the deal also completed and the club granted authorization for a medical.

The move continues Liverpool’s strategy of locking in high-upside talent early. N’Guessan, contracted to AS Saint-Etienne until 2027, has long been viewed by the Ligue 2 club as a prize asset, and they have been open about the possibility of a sale.

Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna first revealed that negotiations were at an advanced stage, reporting “last details to settle” between ASSE and Liverpool. He described N’Guessan as “a great prospect for the future” in the eyes of the Reds, with only hours left to get the agreement over the line.

Romano then followed up by confirming that Liverpool had reached an agreement with Saint-Etienne, describing N’Guessan as another signing “for the future” after the deal for Lucca Brughmans.

The capture of N’Guessan, though, is about tomorrow. Liverpool’s more immediate chaos sits higher up the food chain.

Barcola in, Gakpo out?

Liverpool’s attacking puzzle is being rebuilt on the fly as the window ticks towards its conclusion on Tuesday evening.

Bradley Barcola is set to arrive from PSG, with the French winger poised to sign a major deal after passing his medical on Sunday. That transfer is expected to spark the next big move in the chain: Cody Gakpo’s proposed switch to Manchester City.

Gakpo had the chance to join Tottenham in an £85m deal but has turned down Spurs in favour of a move to the Etihad. According to Romano, the Netherlands international already has an agreement in place with City on personal terms.

On his YouTube channel, Romano explained that City have sent an £85m bid to Liverpool. The key caveat: Liverpool will only green-light Gakpo’s departure if they bring in a right winger before the deadline. No winger, no sale.

That’s where the real tension lies.

Sarr the priority as Palace dig in

The main name on Liverpool’s list is clear. Ismaila Sarr.

Romano states that the Crystal Palace wide man is currently ahead of Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh in Liverpool’s thinking, with Sarr the “favourite candidate” to fill the right-wing berth if Gakpo goes.

Palace, though, are holding the line. The London club are still refusing to sanction Sarr’s exit, even as they quietly scan the market for potential replacements in case the right offer lands on their desk.

Liverpool have already tested their resolve. Romano reveals that an official written bid worth £45m plus £5m in add-ons – a £50m package – was submitted earlier in the week and rejected by Palace, who are not prepared to sell at that price.

The story had been kept remarkably quiet. Romano says there were “zero links in the media” before he revealed the bid, and insists he can “guarantee 100%” that Liverpool’s offer was formal and on paper, not just a verbal enquiry.

Sarr’s stance is no mystery. He wants the move. He wants Liverpool. The final decision now rests with the two clubs as the clock winds down.

In the background, agents are circling. Romano describes Liverpool as being “offered wingers every minute” because the market knows they are hunting a wide forward and that their entire late-window strategy hinges on that one signing.

If they land the right winger, Gakpo walks through the door to Manchester City for £85m. If they don’t, he stays put and the dominoes stop there.

N’Guessan is locked in for 2027. Barcola is ready to step in now. The only question left is whether Liverpool can force open Palace’s door for Sarr before the window slams shut.