Liverpool’s reported position on Cody Gakpo has added another layer to their planning for the 2026/27 season. The club are said to be unwilling to part with the forward for less than $160 million, if they are willing to sell him at all.

At first glance, that stance appears to run against expectations. Liverpool have already brought in Víctor Muñoz, Rio Ngumoha is continuing to develop, and they are still pursuing Bradley Barcola. That trio led many to think Gakpo could be moved on, particularly with Muñoz operating on the left and Ngumoha also preferring that side. Barcola, meanwhile, can play on the right, a position Liverpool still need to strengthen after the release of Mohamed Salah, even though his best work at Paris Saint-Germain came on the left.

A report from The Athletic saying Liverpool have “no intent” to sell Gakpo therefore came as a surprise on the surface. Tottenham Hotspur have “registered interest” through the player’s entourage, but no formal talks have started and there has been no contact with Liverpool.

Liverpool’s valuation is said to reflect this summer’s completed deals, including the sales of Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson, both of which were completed for just under $160 million to Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.

There is also a clear footballing reason behind Liverpool’s thinking. With Salah gone and Hugo Ekitiké expected to miss the start of the season after suffering an Achilles injury in April, the club do not want to “reduce” their attacking options. The intention is to “add” to them instead. Gakpo may also be receiving the benefit of the doubt because Andoni Iraola is arriving as a new manager with fresh ideas.

Gakpo’s value is not limited to the left wing. During his Liverpool career, the 27-year-old has also been used as a No. 9, including several times last season. That role was his main position in 2023/24, his first full campaign at the club, when Luis Díaz started on the left. He also played centrally in the second half of 2022/23, scoring seven goals in 21 Premier League matches, which remains his most productive spell for Liverpool.

With less than a month left in the transfer window, Premier League clubs are still expected to be busy. Incomings and outgoings remain likely across the division, and every side still appears to have at least one clear gap to fill before the deadline.

Arsenal may be attracting attention with their pursuit of Vinícius Júnior, but their bigger need is in central midfield. Declan Rice carried too much of the load last season, while Martín Zubimendi faded after the break and Myles Lewis-Skelly is not yet fully trusted there. Another box-to-box midfielder would help enormously.

Aston Villa could soon be short at left back if Lucas Digne leaves, which would leave Ian Maatsen as the only senior option. Bournemouth need more depth in wide areas, Brentford still require a more natural left back, and Brighton & Hove Albion must replace the goals lost with Danny Welbeck’s move to Chelsea.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have done plenty of work already but still have not addressed the goalkeeper position. Robert Sánchez improved in 2025-26, yet the club still look in need of a top-class solution.

Elsewhere, Coventry City are close to signing Carl Rushworth permanently and would then turn to left back. Crystal Palace need centre-back reinforcements after losing Marc Guéhi and Maxence Lacroix, while Everton must add a defensive midfielder after Idrissa Gana Gueye’s departure.

Fulham will look for winger depth after strengthening up front, Hull City want more options in attack, and Ipswich Town are still waiting for a central midfielder. Leeds United may also need another striker to cover for Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury record.

Liverpool’s most pressing issue is out wide, Manchester City need a right back, Manchester United still want a more destructive midfielder, and Newcastle are alarmingly short at left back. Nottingham Forest must replace Elliot Anderson in midfield, Sunderland need more balance on the left side, and Tottenham Hotspur have already moved aggressively to rebuild after last season’s collapse.

Liverpool may soon have to confront a significant transfer call over Cody Gakpo, with Tottenham Hotspur increasing their pursuit of the forward.

The club are not actively placing him on the market, but the situation could shift quickly. Fabrizio Romano says Tottenham “plan to step up their efforts” to sign Gakpo and that “talks will enter into key stages soon.”

No asking price has been set, though Liverpool would be expected to demand a substantial return on the $45 million (£37 million) they paid PSV Eindhoven in December 2022. With the Reds already short of wingers, any sale would need to be weighed carefully, especially with only a month left in the transfer window.

Gakpo’s case is complicated by his own form. Last season, his goal tally fell sharply compared with the year before. He scored only nine goals in 2025-26, and just two of those came between the start of February and the end of May. That decline inevitably brought scrutiny, particularly because his play became easier to read as he repeatedly looked to cut inside onto his right foot.

Liverpool supporters grew frustrated with those predictable patterns, and the lack of end product did little to ease concerns. The forward had hoped the World Cup would offer a reset, even though his three goals there were overshadowed by the tragic news of his wife’s miscarriage just days before the round of 32 defeat to Morocco.

He has been given extra time away this summer and has not yet linked up with new boss Iraola or his teammates for pre-season.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are focused on adding wingers rather than losing them. Following Salah’s departure on a free transfer, Iraola has limited wide options, even with Victor Muñoz included. Alongside Muñoz and Gakpo, there are only two natural wide men, while Federico Chiesa wants to stay and fight for his place and Rio Ngumoha is still only 17.

Florian Wirtz is now expected to be used in midfield, Harvey Elliott may yet leave, and Hugo Ekitiké could be a left-wing option when fit, though his Achilles rupture means a possible return only in 2027. Liverpool’s interest in Bradley Barcola underlines the need for reinforcements, and if Gakpo departed, two wingers would likely be required.

The final call may rest with Tottenham. If a huge bid arrives, perhaps even above $80 million (£60 million), Liverpool will have to decide whether to cash in or back Gakpo to recover his form.