Cody Gakpo is reportedly closing in on a major transfer to Manchester City after reaching a personal agreement with the Premier League club, with all parties currently working to finalize negotiations with Liverpool. According to reports from outlets including The Athletic and Fabrizio Romano, the development follows Liverpool’s acquisition of Bradley Barcola, which has effectively shifted the landscape and prompted the 27-year-old Netherlands international to seek a move to the Etihad Stadium rather than Tottenham Hotspur.
Transfer Negotiations Between Manchester City and Liverpool
The groundwork for a potential departure accelerated over the weekend following Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest, a match in which Gakpo contributed an assist. With Tottenham Hotspur having pursued the forward throughout much of the summer transfer window, Manchester City entered the picture with concrete interest. Gakpo has already agreed on personal terms with City, though discussions regarding the exact transfer fee between the two clubs remain ongoing.
Liverpool originally acquired the forward 3.5 years ago from PSV Eindhoven for a reported fee of 42 million euros. As negotiations progress, concrete details regarding how much Liverpool intends to recoup from the sale have not yet been fully disclosed by official club channels.
Career Background and Performance Statistics
For Gakpo, a move to Manchester City would represent only the third senior club of his professional career, following spells at PSV and current club Liverpool. Across 182 appearances in all competitions for the Merseyside club, the Eindhoven-born attacker has recorded 51 goals and 24 assists.
Under manager Andoni Iraola, Gakpo has maintained a regular place in Liverpool’s starting lineup this season. This current standing contrasts with portions of the previous campaign under Arne Slot, during which the Dutch international faced sustained criticism from sections of the Liverpool fan base amid a difficult run of form.
Squad Competition at the Etihad Stadium
Should the deal be completed, Gakpo will face competition for a regular place in the attacking setup. The Manchester City squad currently features winger Jérémy Doku, who is sidelined with an injury, alongside versatile forward Antoine Semenyo. Semenyo primarily operates on the right wing but filled in on the left flank during a recent fixture against Crystal Palace.
All involved parties are currently continuing discussions to resolve the remaining terms of the agreement before the transfer window concludes. Further official updates regarding the timeline and final fee are expected directly from the clubs.
