Cody Gakpo's Future: Tottenham's Interest and Liverpool's Control

The summer window always finds a subplot that refuses to go away. This time, Cody Gakpo is at the centre of it, with Tottenham quietly edging into view while Liverpool hold the cards and, for now, keep them close to their chest.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has set the tone: Tottenham like Gakpo. Clubs are asking the question, testing the water, trying to see if there is any route to a deal. Liverpool’s response so far is simple: no green light, no exit. They are happy with him. Any decision will take time.

That distinction is crucial. Interest is not an offer. Curiosity is not commitment. This is the early stage of a transfer story, when sporting directors make calls, intermediaries float possibilities and everyone checks the temperature before anyone dares talk fees or structures.

Liverpool in Control

Liverpool’s position is strong, and they know it. Gakpo is not a peripheral figure being nudged towards the door. He remains a valuable part of the squad, a forward who can cover several roles and give a manager options when the calendar turns brutal.

He can start from the left, work as a central forward, and adapt to different systems. In a season that will demand depth and rotation, moving him on would only make sense if two conditions are met: the money is too good to ignore, and the club already has a clear, realistic plan to replace his minutes and versatility.

That is why Liverpool can afford to be calm. There is no need to accelerate a decision just because a Premier League rival has started to circle.

Why Tottenham Want Him

From Tottenham’s perspective, the attraction is obvious. Gakpo brings Premier League experience, carries international pedigree and fits the modern forward profile: able to threaten in multiple zones, comfortable linking play, not restricted to a single role.

These are the types of forwards that reshape attacks and give coaches tactical freedom. They are also the types that cost serious money. If Spurs want to close the gap on the teams above them, they cannot rely only on bargains and projects; they need proven players who can slot into a high-intensity league without a long adaptation period. Gakpo ticks that box.

World Cup Shadow Over the Market

Romano’s line that no decision will come “during the World Cup” is not a throwaway remark. Major tournaments twist the market. A standout run can inflate a player’s value overnight. A flat campaign can cool enthusiasm just as quickly.

Clubs know this. They often prefer to wait until the noise dies down, to reassess when emotions and headlines are no longer driving the conversation. For Liverpool, that patience feels logical. There is no rush to decide Gakpo’s fate while Tottenham and others are still only exploring whether a deal is even realistic.

The Risk of Strengthening a Rival

This is where the stakes sharpen. Letting Gakpo go to Tottenham would not be a quiet, back-of-house adjustment. It would mean handing a domestic rival a ready-made attacking option, someone who already understands the league and can step straight into high-level games.

Every player has a price, but that does not mean every offer should tempt you. Liverpool have to weigh the short-term financial gain against the longer-term competitive cost. Lose Gakpo, and you lose not just a flexible forward, but also leverage in the market and depth in a key area of the pitch.

If Tottenham are serious, they will have to prove it. They will have to make Liverpool uncomfortable, push past the stage of “interest” and into territory where the numbers and timing force hard conversations at Anfield.

Until that happens, the balance of power is clear. Spurs can ask the question. Liverpool can keep saying no. And Cody Gakpo’s future remains one of the window’s most intriguing threads, waiting for someone to pull it hard enough to unravel.