Tottenham pursue Liverpool's Cody Gakpo as De Zerbi reshapes Spurs squad
Tottenham are pursuing Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo as manager Roberto de Zerbi reshapes his squad, with the interest reported on 6 August 2026. Liverpool, however, are reluctant to weaken their attacking options after Mohamed Salah's departure and with Hugo Ekitike still recovering from an Achilles injury.
Gakpo’s adaptability underpins Tottenham’s interest: although he has featured largely on the left for Liverpool, he has also been used as a central striker, a false nine and a second forward. De Zerbi is said to see him as a player who can drop between the lines to link play and then release runners beyond him, a role that aligns with the Italian’s preference for forwards who vacate central areas to create space for wide attackers. That versatility would provide cover across multiple positions at Spurs, where Dominic Solanke and Mathys Tel are described as natural central forwards who lack Gakpo’s tendency to move between wing and middle.
Statistical measures from the 2025-26 campaign paint a mixed picture: Gakpo scored seven Premier League goals, his lowest return in a full season at Anfield, yet remained among Europe’s most dangerous wide forwards. He averaged 2.2 touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 minutes, ranked inside the top 10 for both open-play shots and chances created, and was caught offside 30 times in the Premier League last season. In player-comparison percentiles across Europe’s top five leagues he ranked in the 98th percentile for shot frequency, the 96th for advanced involvement and the 91st for box threat.
Gakpo’s peak output for Liverpool came during the 2024-25 title-winning campaign when he scored 18 goals in all competitions. Against Tottenham’s current attacking group, his 2025-26 figures were superior: an expected-goals total of 8.59, 87 shots, five assists and 10 big chances created—each higher than any Spurs forward. Richarlison registered more league goals but attempted 26 fewer shots and created only half as many big chances; Solanke had 20 shots and one big chance created; Tel fell short across several attacking measures; and Randal Kolo Muani, who spent last season on loan at Spurs before joining Juventus this summer, also trailed Gakpo.
Beyond goals and shots, Gakpo’s involvement in dangerous areas stands out: he recorded 187 touches in the opposition penalty area compared with 125 for Richarlison, 68 for Tel and 55 for Solanke, and he produced 4.17 expected assists from open play—the highest among the four. Defensively he regained possession 87 times, including 45 in the middle third, and made 13 interceptions, all totals above those of Richarlison, Tel and Solanke. Tel completed 39 dribbles to Gakpo’s 34, while Gakpo’s dribble success rate was 45.95%.
Gakpo’s broader profile includes high link-up and progressive passing metrics—he ranks in the 78th percentile for link-up play, the 75th for pass progression and the 67th for creative threat—and a notable aerial presence at 6ft 4in, placing him in the 96th percentile for aerial volume among wide players in Europe’s top five leagues. Those traits offer tactical options for breaking down deep defensive blocks through diagonal passes, back-post crosses or more direct aerial routes.
Liverpool’s reluctance to sell is informed by squad balance and recent recruitment plans: the Reds are pursuing Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola but would still risk losing one of their most experienced attackers, particularly while Victor Munoz is integrating and 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha progresses. Since joining from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, Gakpo has scored seven, eight, 10 and seven league goals across his four seasons at Anfield, and since November 2024 only Mohamed Salah has scored more Premier League goals for Liverpool than Gakpo’s 17; only Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai have recorded more intentional assists than his five.
Whether Tottenham can persuade Liverpool to part with one of their most seasoned attackers remains to be seen, but if de Zerbi seeks a forward capable of operating across the front line while consistently getting into dangerous positions, the data outlined above explains Spurs’ interest.
