Tottenham Targets Cody Gakpo Amid Liverpool's Barcola Move

Tottenham’s hunt for a headline signing has zeroed in on Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, with Roberto De Zerbi pushing hard for a wide attacker to crown an already lavish summer.

The Italian has seen his midfield and defence reshaped with heavyweight additions. Now he wants the same level of quality on the flanks. Gakpo, firmly established at Liverpool and with four years left on his contract, sits high on that list.

Liverpool, though, are in no mood to weaken their forward line without a safety net. Any move for Gakpo hinges on a replacement walking through the door first, and that is where the next complication begins.

Liverpool weigh Barcola move as Gakpo interest grows

Liverpool are expected to make a formal move for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. On paper, the France international fits the profile: 23 years old, explosive, and able to play across the front line.

The price is brutal. PSG value Barcola at £145m, a figure that instantly turns negotiations into a high-wire act. It is the sort of fee that forces a club to get every detail right, from structure to timing.

Gakpo is one of the more seasoned forwards in Andoni Iraola’s squad and offers crucial versatility, including cover through the middle while Hugo Ekitike continues his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury. Losing him without a ready-made replacement would rip a hole in Liverpool’s attacking depth.

If Gakpo did go and Barcola arrived, Liverpool’s wing options behind them would be thin: teenager Rio Ngumoha and new signing Victor Munoz. Talented, yes. Proven at Premier League level, no. That reality underlines why Liverpool are holding their ground.

Spurs circle Savinho as De Zerbi chases his ‘bomba’

Tottenham are not placing all their chips on one square. The club have also explored a deal for Manchester City winger Savinho, another wide option who fits De Zerbi’s aggressive, front-foot style.

City know the Brazilian wants to leave and join Spurs. For now, they are waiting. No official bid has landed, and Savinho only signed a new contract last summer, which pushes the potential fee up and hands City leverage. They will also want their own replacement lined up before sanctioning any exit.

De Zerbi, meanwhile, has been happy to tease. He has already described Spurs’ next big arrival as a “bomba”, hinting at another major attacking signing to follow an extraordinary window in north London.

Tottenham have spent £237m this summer, including a club-record £100m on Sandro Tonali and £85m on Mateus Fernandes. De Zerbi estimates that about 60 per cent of the club’s transfer “project” is complete. The rest, he insists, will be explosive.

“The transfer market, it's not finished for sure, but we completed 60 per cent of our project in the transfer market. Now we have another bomba!” he told football.london last week.

He confirmed the new arrival will be an attacker and, pressed on how close the deal is, replied: “I hope, but it's not finished for sure.”

De Zerbi has also opened the door to further business beyond that marquee forward.

“I think two, maybe three,” he said when asked if more signings would follow. “We have to see.”

He even leaned into the nuance of his own language, warning that “bomba” in Italian does not carry quite the same meaning as in English, but insisting that players like Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Senesi and Robertson already fit that description for him: “For me, top player for us.”

Romero’s future hangs over Spurs’ rebuild

While Spurs chase attacking fireworks, a storm is brewing at the back. Atletico Madrid and Inter both remain keen on Cristian Romero, Tottenham’s captain and defensive leader.

Inside the club, there is a growing expectation that Romero could depart this summer, barely a year after taking the armband and signing a new deal. De Zerbi has already spoken with the Argentina international and plans deeper talks when Romero returns from his post-World Cup break.

The head coach has hinted he will not block a move if Romero decides he wants out, a stance that keeps the door open for both Atletico and Inter.

Inter have already brought in John Stones to bolster their centre-back options, which makes any deal for Romero financially awkward. One potential trigger lies with Benjamin Pavard. His departure could free up both the funds and the squad space Inter need to meet Spurs’ demands.

Tottenham, then, sit at a crossroads: chasing a “bomba” in attack while bracing for a possible earthquake in defence. Whether the window ends with Gakpo in white, Savinho on the wing, or Romero heading for Serie A will shape not just De Zerbi’s first season, but the club’s direction for years to come.