De Zerbi Targets Liverpool Star Cody Gakpo for North London 2026

Key Points

• Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has prioritised Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo as a key component for his new project in north London.
• Italian transfer specialist Nicolò Schira reports that Tottenham have opened official discussions and are preparing an important financial bid.
• The Lilywhites have reportedly offered the 27-year-old Netherlands international a lucrative long-term contract extending until 2031.
• While Gakpo endured a challenging 2025/26 domestic campaign under Liverpool’s framework, he has excelled at the 2026 World Cup under Ronald Koeman.
• Tottenham could leverage existing squad connections, including international teammates Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke, to convince Gakpo to make the switch.
• Football insider Fabrizio Romano indicates that Liverpool and their new manager Andoni Iraola have not yet made a definitive decision regarding Gakpo’s long-term future.

Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) June 27, 2026, are positioning themselves to execute a major summer transfer by targeting Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, with head coach Roberto De Zerbi identifying the Dutchman as a crucial addition to reshape the club’s attacking vanguard (Football.London) June 27, 2026 – The 27-year-old winger, whose current contract at Anfield runs until June 2030, has emerged as a primary target for the Lilywhites as they look to build on their recent Premier League survival and establish a competitive squad capable of challenging for European places. Reports indicate that senior figures at Tottenham are preparing a substantial formal proposal to test Liverpool’s resolve, while simultaneously structuring a highly attractive long-term contract package to present to the player’s representatives.

Why does Roberto De Zerbi want to sign Cody Gakpo for Tottenham?

As reported by Nicolò Schira on X, De Zerbi views the Netherlands international as ‘key’ to his ongoing tactical project in north London. The Italian tactician, who successfully guided Tottenham through a turbulent period to secure top-flight safety on the final day of the 2025/26 season, is determined to overhaul the club’s offensive output.

According to an analysis published by TuttoSport, De Zerbi is personally driving the pursuit of Gakpo, believing the forward would fit seamlessly into his preferred 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 tactical systems. The Italian publication noted that inside De Zerbi’s structure,

“the Dutchman would be perfect as an attacking winger on the left flank,”

a role that allows him to exploit space, isolate opposition defenders, and cut inward to utilise his stronger right foot.

This mirrors the exact role Gakpo occupies for the Netherlands national team under Ronald Koeman, where he has consistently demonstrated high-level efficiency.

Furthermore, writing for CaughtOffside, journalist Mehdi Gokal stated that De Zerbi has prioritised the dynamic forward to reinforce his attacking options ahead of the new Premier League campaign, looking to establish a completely fresh identity in North London.

The manager has reportedly assured Gakpo that he will be handed a central, defining role in his tactical blueprint—a status the player has not always consistently enjoyed at club level during his tenure on Merseyside.

What contract offer has Tottenham made to Cody Gakpo?

As detailed by Nicolò Schira, the north London club has already formulated a lucrative financial package to tempt the forward away from Anfield.

Tottenham have reportedly offered Gakpo a long-term contract that would run until June 2031. This would represent a six-year commitment, providing the player with long-term security and cementing his status as one of the fundamental pillars of De Zerbi’s rebuilding process.

In addition to the contract length, TEAMtalk has reported that Tottenham have held discussions with Liverpool to understand the exact conditions required to sanction a deal.

While Gakpo’s current deal with Liverpool is not due to expire for another four years, the considerable length and value of Tottenham’s personal terms proposal are designed to demonstrate the club’s absolute faith in his abilities.

Who are the secret weapons Tottenham can use to sign Cody Gakpo?

As reported by senior sports journalist Jake Stokes of Football.London, Tottenham possess unique internal advantages that could help unleash a successful pursuit of Gakpo, specifically through the club’s growing Dutch contingent.

The presence of central defender Micky van de Ven, alongside recent defensive acquisition Jan Paul van Hecke, provides Gakpo with familiar international colleagues inside the Tottenham dressing room.

Furthermore, Tottenham’s link to Dutch international Xavi Simons has also been cited as an additional factor that could sway Gakpo’s decision-making process.

Beyond international teammates, Tottenham have already completed the signing of former Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson on a free transfer earlier this summer.

TEAMtalk noted that De Zerbi is highly keen on the prospect of reuniting Robertson with his former Anfield teammate down the left flank, creating an established chemistry that could immediately benefit Tottenham’s tactical structure.

Former Tottenham defender Alan Hutton commented on the potential acquisition, stating to Football.London that

“Gakpo would definitely add quality and address a problem area for Tottenham,”

referencing the injury absences of wide players like Wilson Odobert, Mohammed Kudus, and Dejan Kulusevski in recent campaigns. Hutton added:

“They need more goals coming from wide areas, they need more supply for the likes of Solanke and Richarlison. I think Gakpo would bring that along with experience and a winning mentality.”

Will Liverpool sell Cody Gakpo to Tottenham this summer?

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, speaking on his official YouTube channel, Liverpool’s internal hierarchy has yet to finalise its stance on Gakpo’s availability. Romano stated:

“There is an appreciation from Tottenham for Cody Gakpo. That’s true. He is one of the players they appreciate.”

However, he clarified that

“this story about Cody Gakpo completely depends on what Liverpool want to do. Liverpool are yet to decide anything. At the moment, they are not opening doors to his exit.”

The situation on Merseyside is further complicated by managerial changes, with newly appointed head coach Andoni Iraola set to assess the squad alongside club directors before outlining their definitive transfer strategy.

FlashScore reports that while Gakpo faced domestic criticism for his consistency during the 2025/26 campaign, his soaring valuation during international tournaments means Liverpool would require a significant premium to consider parting with the player.

With Liverpool having already completed the signing of Victor Munoz and maintaining strong interest in targets such as Yan Diomande, Gakpo’s exact placing within Iraola’s long-term project remains subject to ongoing internal evaluation.

How has Cody Gakpo performed at the 2026 World Cup?

The intense transfer speculation arrives amidst Gakpo enjoying a highly productive run of form on the international stage.

While his 2025/26 club campaign with Liverpool yielded a modest return of nine goals and six assists across 52 appearances in all competitions, his performances for the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup have recaptured widespread attention.

As reported by CaughtOffside, Gakpo produced a player-of-the-match display during the Netherlands’ dominant 5-1 victory over Sweden at the NRG Stadium in Houston.

Operating with significant tactical freedom on the left wing, Gakpo provided the assist for Brian Brobbey’s opening goal before scoring two individual second-half goals to secure the win.

This tournament form has served to validate De Zerbi’s belief that Gakpo retains elite-level ceiling when utilized as a primary focal point within a fluid attacking system.

Background of the Tottenham Hotspur and Cody Gakpo Transfer Link

The pursuit of Cody Gakpo marks a significant shift in Tottenham Hotspur’s recruitment methodology under technical director Johan Lange and the ENIC ownership group. Following a highly challenging 2025/26 Premier League season where the club narrowly avoided relegation under the brief stewardship of Roberto De Zerbi—who replaced Igor Tudor mid-season—the hierarchy has committed to a sweeping squad modernization program.

The club has already shown significant financial ambition in the current window, securing deals for left-back Andy Robertson, Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi, and Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.

Gakpo originally joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 for a fee exceeding £35 million. Despite showcasing flashes of immense technical quality, his deployment across multiple positions—ranging from a central false nine to an interior midfielder—frequently disrupted his positional consistency at Anfield.

The transition of Liverpool’s technical leadership from Jürgen Klopp to subsequent regimes, culminating in the appointment of Andoni Iraola ahead of the 2026/27 season, has created an environment of structural change where established players are evaluating their roles within the squad.

Predictions for how the Cody Gakpo transfer could affect Tottenham and Liverpool supporters

Should Tottenham Hotspur successfully finalise an agreement for Cody Gakpo, it will significantly alter expectations across both fanbases.

For Tottenham supporters, the signing would signal an abrupt end to the anxieties of the previous two seasons, shifting the narrative from lower-table instability to a legitimate push back toward European positions.

Gakpo’s arrival would provide fans with a high-calibre, versatile forward capable of alleviating the creative burden on James Maddison and supplying consistent service to central strikers Dominic Solanke and Richarlison.

It would also serve as a definitive statement of intent that the board is fully backing De Zerbi’s demanding tactical philosophy.

Conversely, for Liverpool supporters, permitting Gakpo to join a traditional top-six rival would represent a calculated risk by the new sports science and recruitment departments under Andoni Iraola.

While a section of the Anfield faithful might view his departure as a practical method to generate substantial transfer capital for defensive targets like Yan Diomande, his exceptional form at the 2026 World Cup means his exit would be met with scrutiny if he immediately flourishes under De Zerbi’s guidance. Ultimately, the development stands to alter the balance of power within the Premier League’s attacking departments as the pre-season prepares to get underway.