​Cody Gakpo has slipped into the familiar summer orbit of transfer chatter, a fate that often befalls a talented player who posts only a decent season. Tottenham Hotspur have been floated as a potential destination, accompanied by talk of genuine interest, and that is usually enough to spark the rumour mill into its familiar procession. Yet the more telling detail lies in what Liverpool truly think, and that points squarely in one direction.
According to Lewis Steele for The Redmen TV, the expectation inside Liverpool is straightforward. “He’s not as off-limits as he was maybe 12 months ago, but I still think I’d be surprised if he wasn’t a Liverpool player come the end of the summer transfer window. I think the word internally is that they’re planning for [next season] with him.” That line is the key. When a club is planning with a player rather than planning around a sale, it signals where the balance of probability lies.
This is not complicated. Gakpo is under contract for four more years, Liverpool are not pressed financially, and the new head coach, Andoni Iraola, has every reason to assess him thoroughly before green-lighting any major move. Clubs with stable contracts do not offload useful forwards merely to chase headlines. They sell when the player wants out, when the coach has no use for him, or when an offer becomes irresistible. None of those conditions currently exist.
His 2025/26 figures were modest by comparison with earlier expectations—nine goals in 52 appearances—and that naturally cools external perception. Internally, however, there is likely a broader interpretation. He still possesses tactical versatility, can operate across the front line, and has once again shown on the international stage that he remains capable of delivering in high-pressure moments.
Liverpool’s attack is in transition. Victor Muñoz has arrived from Osasuna, and Mo Salah’s departure has pushed Richard Hughes and the recruitment team to prioritise wide forwards. Bradley Barcola has already been linked, and more names are likely to follow. That does not automatically render Gakpo expendable. If anything, it underscores why retaining him makes sense. Squad building is about layers, not solely star names. You need players who can start, rotate, adapt, and endure the rhythm of a long season. Gakpo fits that profile. He may not have dominated the most recent campaign, but distinguishing between a dip and a decline is crucial, and Liverpool would be prudent not to confuse the two.
There is a straightforward market reality here as well. If Spurs admire him, that is understandable. He is experienced, versatile, and still at a suitable age. But admiration is cheap. Liverpool do not need to entertain it unless an offer reaches a genuinely significant level, and there is no sign that such an offer has materialised.
So, for now, the sensible takeaway is the obvious one. The Cody Gakpo transfer chatter exists because it is summer and because Liverpool are entering a new phase under a different leadership, but there is no compelling indication that a sale is imminent or even likely at present. The noise may persist, yet the balance of probability remains in favour of him continuing to play a role for Liverpool next season, with the club prioritising a measured, multi-layered approach to squad construction rather than a knee-jerk exodus or a headline-driven exit.