Manchester City Eyes Cody Gakpo as Transfer Deadline Approaches

Manchester City have turned their attention to Cody Gakpo as the transfer window ticks towards its final days, with the Premier League champions actively monitoring the Liverpool forward’s situation, according to ESPN.

City have asked about the Dutchman’s potential availability to gauge whether a late move is realistic, but have not yet opened formal talks with Liverpool or lodged a bid. For now, it is groundwork, not a raid.

The need is real. Savinho’s switch to Tottenham has ripped a hole in City’s wide options and left the Etihad hierarchy scrambling for another winger to carry the load across a long, unforgiving season. Depth is no luxury in Manchester; it’s a requirement.

Gakpo has chosen a sharp moment to remind everyone of his value. He started for Liverpool and scored a crucial goal in their 2-2 draw with Newcastle, underlining the blend of movement, finishing and versatility that first drew elite clubs to him.

Liverpool, though, have been firm all summer: they want to keep him. That stance holds for now. It may not be unshakeable.

Anfield’s transfer plans could yet reshape the picture. The Reds are working aggressively to reinforce their own forward line. Talks remain active with Paris Saint-Germain over Bradley Barcola, and Liverpool have already seen two separate offers knocked back by Brighton & Hove Albion for winger Yankuba Minteh.

If those deals – or alternatives – land, the door could creak open. At that point, City would be ready to step through, but they would not be alone. Tottenham, already emboldened by the Savinho deal, have also registered concrete interest in Gakpo and are watching closely.

City are not putting all their hopes on one name. Pedro Neto of Chelsea is among the other wide options under consideration as they reshape their attack. The forward line has already been bolstered with a €40 million (£34m) agreement for Brazilian attacker Allan from Palmeiras, sealed on Monday, but the sense inside the club is that more is needed.

And the rebuild is not confined to the flanks.

Midfield has become a critical concern after a stunning exodus. Nico Gonzalez is closing in on a move to Newcastle, another major departure from the Etihad engine room. He follows Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders out of the club in what has become a full-scale overhaul in the centre of the pitch.

City’s response has been to go big. Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi has already arrived in Manchester to complete his €100m switch from Lille, a statement signing designed to anchor the next version of Pep Guardiola’s midfield.

Even that might not be the end of it. City continue to keep a close eye on Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea, tracking the Argentinian’s situation in London as the deadline looms. Any sign of movement there, and City are poised to act.

So the final days of the window promise to be frantic at the Etihad. A new midfield core is being assembled on the fly, a new forward line is taking shape, and Gakpo sits high on a list of attacking targets that could yet define how City attack the season ahead.