Manchester City Enters Gakpo Race, Liverpool Stands Firm on £70m Valuation
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Manchester City have launched a late bid to sign Dutch international forward Cody Gakpo from Liverpool, setting up a three-way transfer battle with Tottenham Hotspur. Reports from British media outlets The Mirror and Daily Mail confirm that City manager Enzo Maresca has instructed club officials to negotiate directly with Gakpo's representatives in a bid to steal the player from under Tottenham's nose. Liverpool have remained steadfast, insisting on their £70 million valuation for the 27-year-old Netherlands star, who recently opened his scoring account for the new season in a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United.
Key Points
- Manchester City have entered the race for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, with manager Enzo Maresca pushing for a last-minute deal before the transfer window shuts
- Tottenham had reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Gakpo's camp as early as July, making them the frontrunners before City's intervention
- Liverpool have set a firm asking price of £70 million (approximately HK$700 million) and will not consider any offer below that threshold
- Gakpo scored Liverpool's first goal of the season in their 2-2 opening-day draw against Newcastle United, demonstrating his continued value to the club
- The 27-year-old Dutch international signed a contract extension with Liverpool last year that runs until 2030, giving the club significant leverage in negotiations
- If successful, the Gakpo signing would represent City's third major capture of the transfer window, following imminent deals for 18-year-old French midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille and 22-year-old Brazilian Allan Elias from Palmeiras for £34 million
Why It Matters
This transfer saga highlights the intense competition among Premier League clubs for elite attacking talent, with City's late entry demonstrating their willingness to act decisively even at the close of the transfer window. For Liverpool, retaining Gakpo at their valuation signals their ambition under new manager Andoni Iraola, who publicly expressed his appreciation for the Dutch forward's abilities .
This transfer saga highlights the intense competition among Premier League clubs for elite attacking talent, with City's late entry demonstrating their willingness to act decisively even at the close of the transfer window. For Liverpool, retaining Gakpo at their valuation signals their ambition under new manager Andoni Iraola, who publicly expressed his appreciation for the Dutch forward's abilities .