Liverpool Transfer News: Cody Gakpo stayed at Liverpool after a late-window push from Manchester City failed, yet the 27-year-old’s position may not be fully settled. Gambian journalist Foday Manneh has reported that a January departure remains possible, keeping alive a transfer story that dominated the final days of the summer window.
Manneh previously reported that Liverpool could keep Gakpo until January because the club had limited time to secure a replacement. His latest comments keep that route open, particularly if Liverpool revisit their wide-forward plans in winter. Tottenham pursued Gakpo earlier in the summer, while Manchester City later emerged as the more serious option.
Sky Sports reported in August that City had opened talks with Liverpool, with reports placing the potential fee at about £85m. Liverpool eventually kept the Dutch international after failing to complete replacement business. Reports during the negotiations said Gakpo had agreed personal terms with City.
Gakpo has since contributed regularly. He scored against Newcastle, assisted against Nottingham Forest, supplied two assists at Ipswich and helped create Alexander Isak’s winner at Bournemouth on 20 September. Iraola has praised him as a very valuable player. That run has given the January question more relevance, with Liverpool still reshaping their attack.
Liverpool Transfer News: Should Liverpool block another Gakpo transfer approach?
For Liverpool, the strongest argument for keeping Gakpo rests on what he gives the attack across several positions rather than on one scoring figure. Bradley Barcola offers a natural option from the left, while Gakpo gives Andoni Iraola a different physical profile.
Liverpool’s current attack contains Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, while the club continues to adjust after Mohamed Salah’s departure. Gakpo can drop into pockets, combine around the box and attack crosses, yet he can still provide width when the structure demands it. His willingness to switch positions can help Iraola alter the shape without making an immediate substitution.
His current numbers support that role. FotMob credits Gakpo with one Premier League goal and three assists this season, while his two assists at Ipswich showed how quickly he can influence a match without scoring himself. Against Bournemouth, he started on the right and produced the work that led directly to Isak’s winner.
There are limits, though. Gakpo does not always beat defenders through explosive acceleration, and crowded central areas can reduce his influence when opponents close around him. Liverpool therefore need to judge his value against the squad’s wider needs rather than treat every large transfer fee as an automatic reason to sell.
An £85m-plus offer would create a major financial opportunity, but replacing Gakpo in January could prove awkward. Liverpool would need another attacker who can cover multiple roles while contributing immediately, and the winter market can give selling clubs stronger leverage.
Manneh’s report makes the January question dependent on circumstances rather than presenting a confirmed transfer. If Gakpo leaves, Liverpool could revisit Yankuba Minteh, whose summer move collapsed after Brighton rejected offers and his injury complicated the deal. Manneh has specifically linked a possible January move for Minteh with Gakpo’s departure.
Barcola’s arrival changes the squad equation. Liverpool paid heavily for the French winger, and Munoz provides another wide option, so Iraola has more cover than he had at the end of last season. Even so, Gakpo’s ability to cover different attacking roles separates him from a specialist winger.
For now, Gakpo remains at Liverpool and has a contract running until 2030. Tottenham’s earlier interest and City’s summer pursuit mean another approach would carry genuine context. If Liverpool receive a serious January offer, the decision will rest on squad cover, replacement availability and Iraola’s tactical plans. That makes any January sale a football decision, not simply finance.
