Man City Want to Sign Cody Gakpo: Complications Under Multiple Preconditions
According to a report by The Athletic, Manchester City are interested in Cody Gakpo, but Liverpool will not sell the Dutchman unless they bring in two attacking players before the transfer window closes.
Manchester City are keen on signing Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo. The 27-year-old is under contract with Liverpool until 2030, having signed a new five-year extension with the club in August 2025, and there have not yet been any club-to-club transfer negotiations. Throughout this summer, Gakpo was persistently linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, but he started in Liverpool's Premier League opener against Newcastle United on Sunday and scored the team's opening goal.
If Gakpo ultimately joins Manchester City, he would become yet another marquee addition to their summer spending. According to The Athletic, Manchester City have already agreed a €40m deal with Palmeiras for winger Allan. In addition, the club has reached an agreement with Lille for midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for a transfer fee of €95m. Unless Liverpool sign at least two attacking players before the window shuts, they will not even consider sanctioning Gakpo's departure; the Dutch forward played a pivotal role in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle, proving his immense value to the club. Gakpo endured a difficult 2025–26 campaign, but he looks revitalized and full of energy at the dawn of the new era under Andoni Iraola.
Even if Liverpool secure their top target Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain and strike a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for Yankuba Minteh, they still have ample reason to keep Gakpo and retain his services. While Barcola might occupy the left-wing role,
Gakpo would be invaluable as a centre-forward backup to Alexander Isak, particularly with Hugo Ekitiké sidelined with an injury until after Christmas.
Gakpo's transfer fee would certainly exceed £75m. Given the fierce rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City, selling him to Tottenham Hotspur might be easier for Liverpool supporters to swallow. However, the vast majority of fans still hope Liverpool reject all offers and keep him in the squad.
Barcola's Impasse: The Sky-High €140m Asking Price
A recent report from French outlet L'Équipe reveals that Paris Saint-Germain plan to remain active this week on both the incoming and outgoing transfer fronts. The most high-profile piece of business remains the potential sale of Bradley Barcola.
With just one week remaining before the transfer window closes, PSG's summer recruitment is far from over. Sporting director Luís Campos confirmed as much in an interview on Sunday: “The transfer window is not over yet. I understand why everyone is asking questions, but please also understand my position. Protecting the interests of PSG and the club is paramount. People are talking about Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye; we will wait and see. It is like this every year. I would remind everyone of what happened with Gianluigi Donnarumma last year, which happened very late indeed. This transfer window is far from closed; it is open. Even in terms of incomings, if we identify a good opportunity, we will act decisively.”
In Barcola's case, following the rejection of Liverpool's earlier bid estimated at €115m and a subsequent period of silence, negotiations between the two clubs have reopened with minor progress. For blockbuster deals of this magnitude, everything moves slowly, with both sides negotiating price increments million by million. Liverpool are waiting to see whether PSG will agree to lower their demands before submitting a final bid that they deem acceptable to both parties. However, the Parisian club continues to hold firm on their €140m valuation, with only one week remaining in the transfer window.
