Tottenham Hotspur are pursuing a transfer deal for Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo as the North London club seeks to reinforce its attack. Analysts note that Gakpo outperformed current Spurs forward options across multiple attacking and defensive metrics last season despite Liverpool’s fifth-place finish.
The North London side turned toward the Dutch international after previously exploring a move for Manchester City’s Savinho, according to journalists Lyall Thomas and Vinny O’Connor of Sky Sports News.
Liverpool could prove open to an exit for the forward. The Reds are expected to make a bid to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola this summer. Across all competitions last season, Gakpo made 52 appearances for Liverpool and found the net nine times while adding six assists.
Statistical Comparison With Current Spurs Forwards
Statistical evaluation reveals a stark contrast between Gakpo’s production and the output generated by Tottenham’s existing attacking options during the most recent campaign. Even within a Liverpool side that stumbled to a fifth-place finish in their Premier League title defense, Gakpo managed a higher expected-goals total of 8.59, along with 87 shots, five assists, and 10 big chances created.
By comparison, Richarlison found the back of the net more often in the league but attempted 26 fewer shots and generated exactly half as many big chances. Injuries severely limited Dominic Solanke, who managed just 20 shots and a single big chance created. Mathys Tel likewise fell behind Gakpo across several primary attacking indicators, and Randal Kolo Muani—who spent last season on loan in North London before joining Juventus—simultaneously trailed those figures.
Penalty Area Presence and Open-Play Creation
The disparity in offensive involvement extends well beyond raw shooting counts. Gakpo registered 187 touches in the opposition penalty area, dwarfing the contributions of his prospective teammates. Richarlison logged 125 touches in the box, while Tel recorded 68 and Solanke managed 55.
Creative metrics further underscore his value in the final third. Gakpo posted 4.17 expected assists from open play, the highest mark among the group. His broader profile places him in the 78th percentile for link-up play, the 75th for pass progression, and the 67th for creative threat, pointing to a player comfortable combining in tight spaces and orchestrating build-up sequences.
Defensive Work Rate and Physical Dimensions
Beyond offensive duties, the forward provides notable defensive contribution from wide areas. Gakpo regained possession 87 times, which included 45 recoveries in the middle third alongside 13 interceptions. Each of those defensive totals outpaced Richarlison, Tel, and Solanke.
Standing at 6-foot-4, the attacker also introduces an unusual physical profile for a wide player. He ranks in the 96th percentile for aerial volume among positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, meaning roughly 4% of wingers contest aerial balls at a higher frequency. That height could give manager De Zerbi an alternative tactical outlet against deep defensive blocks through diagonal passes, back-post crosses, or direct distribution when opponents clamp down on Tottenham’s short build-up play.
