Cody Gakpo's Future at Liverpool: A Potential Exit Amidst Summer Reshuffle

Liverpool’s owners are ready to make a hard call on Cody Gakpo – and the rest of Europe has heard the signal.

The Dutch forward, once a symbol of the club’s smart recruitment, is now at the centre of a summer reshuffle that could see him leave Anfield and a £78m-rated France international arrive in his place.

Gakpo on the brink as Liverpool reset

Liverpool’s title defence collapsed last season. So did Gakpo’s form.

Across a flat, uninspired 2025/26 campaign, the winger struggled alongside a number of underperforming teammates as the Premier League crown slipped away with barely a fight. The football turned slow, predictable, and lifeless. The atmosphere around Anfield followed.

That slide cost Arne Slot his job. FSG judged that the style of play, the lack of intensity, and a manager who had clearly lost the crowd left them with no choice. Andoni Iraola has been brought in to jolt the club back to its high-tempo identity.

In the middle of that reset sits Gakpo. Criticised heavily by sections of the fanbase and facing a new manager with new demands, he has become one of the most talked‑about names in Liverpool’s squad.

Reports in the Netherlands suggested the 121-goal winger is ready to ask out, concerned that his minutes will shrink under Iraola. That noise has not gone unnoticed. Tottenham Hotspur, always on the lookout for attacking firepower, have been monitoring the situation closely and believe there could be an opening for a big-money move.

Journalist David Lynch, speaking on Anfield Index, underlined how real that possibility has become.

He admitted he had initially dismissed the idea Liverpool would even consider a sale this summer, given the amount of work already on the club’s plate. But a conversation behind the scenes changed his view. The message he got back was blunt: Liverpool could sell him if the right offer arrives.

No guarantees. No fire sale. Just a clear willingness from FSG to cash in if the bid hits their valuation.

For a player signed as a long-term piece of the attack, that is a significant shift.

No transfer request – but a door is open

Lynch did move to knock down one of the more dramatic claims. The notion that Gakpo has already asked to leave was described as “nonsense”.

Right now, the forward’s attention is on the World Cup. Once that ends, the real decisions begin.

Interest exists. Money will decide the rest. If a club – Spurs or otherwise – steps up with a serious proposal, Liverpool are prepared to talk. The sense from those close to the situation is simple: there is a genuine chance Anfield says goodbye to Gakpo before the window closes.

And if that happens, the club already have a profile in mind.

Barcola in Liverpool’s sights

Liverpool’s main transfer priority remains Yan Diomande. That has not changed. But the idea of signing a third winger this summer, after the agreement for Victor Munoz, is very much alive.

The name that keeps coming back is Bradley Barcola.

The PSG winger, valued around €90m (£78m), has long been on Liverpool’s radar. Lynch has reported for some time that Barcola is viewed as a serious target, not just a name on a long list. Arsenal have also been linked, and competition is expected, but Liverpool are watching his situation closely as PSG weigh up whether to cash in.

From a footballing standpoint, the fit is obvious. Barcola can operate on either flank and through the middle, though he prefers the left – exactly the territory Gakpo has often occupied. He offers flexibility, pace, and the kind of direct threat Iraola’s system demands.

Lynch outlined the chain of events that would need to fall into place. Gakpo would have to be sold, likely after his World Cup campaign. The offer for him would need to be strong enough to tempt FSG. PSG, in turn, would need to be ready to let Barcola go. And then the player himself would have to choose Liverpool over rival suitors.

A lot of moving parts. But not fantasy.

If Gakpo exits, Liverpool will need a replacement. Inside the club, Diomande and young talent Ngumoha are not viewed as like-for-like answers for that role. That is where Barcola comes in.

Fabrizio Romano has already stated that Iraola “loves” Barcola, and there is a contractual detail at PSG that could give Liverpool leverage. Put that together with long-standing admiration from Anfield and the path is clear: Gakpo out, Barcola in is not an outlandish scenario. It is a live one.

Diomande deal drags on

All of this plays out against the backdrop of Liverpool’s pursuit of Diomande, the player FSG see as their top target.

Talks with RB Leipzig have dragged, and frustration is reportedly growing in the player’s camp as they wait for Liverpool to strike an agreement. There is a belief that a record-breaking deal could be wrapped up in a matter of “one or two days” once the clubs finally align on the fee.

Until that happens, Liverpool’s summer remains in a delicate balance.

A misfiring title defence has already claimed a manager. Now it threatens to reshape the forward line. If Gakpo’s time at Anfield really is ticking down and Barcola is waiting in the wings, this window will not just define Iraola’s first season – it could redraw the club’s attacking blueprint for years.