Tottenham’s search for another elite forward has moved into a more intriguing lane. After weeks of noise around Savinho, Morgan Rogers and wider attacking reinforcements, Cody Gakpo now looks like the kind of opportunistic Premier League target Roberto De Zerbi’s rebuild was always likely to produce.
Reports in Italy have claimed De Zerbi wants the Liverpool forward, with Tottenham readying a significant bid and offering a contract until 2031. This Is Anfield has since reported that Fabrizio Romano has also acknowledged Spurs’ interest, while stressing Liverpool have not yet opened the door to an exit before the end of Gakpo’s World Cup campaign.
Excl. – Roberto #DeZerbi wants to sign Cody #Gakpo. #Tottenham are working and ready to submit an important bid to #Liverpool; while for the dutch winger offered a contract until 2031 and a key-role in RDZ’s Project. Opened talks.
— Nicolo Schira (@NicoSchira) June 21, 2026
Why Gakpo Fits The De Zerbi Brief
The basic attraction is obvious. Gakpo is not a touchline-only winger, nor is he a fixed No 9. He is at his best when he can start from the left, arrive inside, receive between full-back and centre-back, and attack the box with the rhythm of a second striker.
That matters because De Zerbi’s Tottenham attack is already being built around multiple occupation of central lanes rather than one traditional reference point. Spurs have explored the market for a direct wide threat in Savinho, while Morgan Rogers’ rising price has made the search for flexible alternatives more urgent.
Gakpo gives Spurs a different solution. He can carry, combine, finish off the far-post run and rotate with Mathys Tel without forcing De Zerbi into a rigid front three. That is why the reported promise of a key role is not just contract sweetener. It speaks directly to the way Tottenham want their next forward signing to function.
The Risk Behind The World Cup Surge
The danger is paying for tournament momentum rather than club-level certainty. Gakpo’s Netherlands form has sharpened the market around him, particularly after his productive start at the World Cup. But the same player finished last season at Liverpool under scrutiny, with questions over his decision-making, shot selection and consistency on the left.
Flashscore’s Opta-led analysis noted that he hit the woodwork more than any Liverpool teammate in 2025/26 and ranked highly for fast breaks, which hints at both promise and waste. Tottenham would not be buying a flawless attacker. They would be backing De Zerbi to convert a high-volume forward into a cleaner, more decisive one.
That is a familiar recruitment gamble, but it is also a deliberate one. De Zerbi’s football is designed to create isolated receiving moments for forwards who can attack defenders after the press has been manipulated. Gakpo’s size, ball-striking and ability to play off either foot make him a more natural project than a winger who needs chalk on his boots.
Liverpool’s Stance Is The Real Deadline
The deal still depends on Liverpool’s appetite to sell. Romano’s reported stance that Liverpool are not giving a green light yet is the crucial line. With Andoni Iraola reshaping the squad and Liverpool assessing their own wide options, Spurs may have to wait until the Netherlands’ World Cup run is over before the real negotiation starts.
For Tottenham, patience is acceptable only if it does not freeze the rest of the attack plan. The club have already given De Zerbi defensive reinforcements and have explored several attacking lanes. Gakpo can be the shortcut if Liverpool blink. If they do not, Spurs cannot afford another summer where admiration becomes inertia.
The appeal is clear enough: Premier League experience, international pedigree, tactical flexibility and a potential statement raid on a rival. The calculation is whether Tottenham are seeing the player Liverpool have struggled to fully unlock, or the version De Zerbi believes he can build an attack around.
