The Cody Gakpo transfer no longer sits in the clubs’ hands. It sits in the player’s.

Tottenham have done the courtship. Personal terms have been in place since July, and head coach Roberto De Zerbi has reportedly spoken with the forward himself. Spurs lodged an opening £60m bid, which was turned down because Liverpool had put the asking price closer to £70m for a player under contract until 2030.

Now Manchester City have muscled in.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday 24 August 2026 that last season’s runners-up had opened a channel to Gakpo’s representatives.

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“Manchester City made contact with Cody Gakpo’s camp today. Talks have started while Tottenham remain in active discussions,” Romano wrote.

There have been no club-to-club talks yet, and Liverpool have restated that they do not want to sell the 27-year-old, who started and scored in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle on the opening weekend.

Savinho’s exit made Gakpo a City target

Gakpo is on City’s board for one reason. Savinho joined Tottenham on Friday 21 August in a Manchester City record sale worth up to £85m, with £75m guaranteed and £10m in add-ons. With Omar Marmoush also close to a switch to Spurs, the champions want another wide forward before deadline.

The dilemma facing Gakpo is not really about money. Both suitors sit at the top table of European football. It is about role.

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At Tottenham he would be built into the front line as Savinho’s direct successor. At the Etihad, according to the same reporting, he would arrive as a squad option in an already stacked attack.

Liverpool want £70m and two wingers first

Liverpool’s stance is conditional rather than closed. Romano’s line is that they would only sanction a sale if they can bring in two wingers themselves, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola the priority target and Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh the second name on the list.

“Liverpool will only sell Cody Gakpo if they can get two wingers in next 8 days; priority remains Bradley Barcola.”

The asking price is around £70m, some £10m above the bid Tottenham had already seen rebuffed.

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Whether either winger falls into place in time is the question. The English window closes on Tuesday 1 September at 11pm local time, leaving both Spurs and City barely a week to convince a Liverpool board that has said it is not looking to sell.

The player’s preference will decide it

Personal terms give Tottenham the head start, but the fact that City rang his camp at all suggests the door has not fully shut on their bid.

If Gakpo pushes for the Etihad, Spurs face the deadline with Savinho gone and no direct replacement lined up. If he pushes for Tottenham, De Zerbi gets his marquee signing and Liverpool are pressed toward the £70m figure Spurs are reportedly prepared to meet.

Tottenham are said to be preparing a new bid in the coming days.

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