City circle Gakpo as Spurs chase enters delicate phase
Manchester City have made contact with Cody Gakpo's camp as they weigh up a surprise move for the Liverpool forward, a move that would throw a sizeable spanner into Tottenham's summer plans.
Enzo Maresca's side have reportedly approached the Dutch international directly, making their interest known to the player himself. Whether they follow that up with formal contact with Liverpool remains to be seen, but the very fact they have entered the frame complicates what had looked like a straightforward pursuit.
Tottenham have already seen an opening £60m offer rejected. They are preparing to go again, with no intention of abandoning the chase. Previous reports have suggested Liverpool value the 27-year-old at around £70m.
Spurs are not the only ones keeping close tabs. City are weighing up whether to open formal talks with Liverpool, with a view to improving squad depth and softening the blow of losing Savinho.
Gakpo's own situation is not straightforward. He struggled for consistency last season, like many of his Liverpool team-mates, though he finished the campaign with renewed confidence after scoring three times for the Netherlands at the World Cup. Should he leave Anfield, he wants to keep starting regularly in the Premier League — which is precisely why Tottenham's offer of a key role carries real appeal.
There is, however, a broader dynamic at play. The gravitational pull of playing under Pep Guardiola helped City land plenty of big names in recent years. The club does not quite wield that same influence now Maresca is in charge, and whether he can recreate even a fraction of that magic at the Etihad is an open question.
That uncertainty is part of why Spurs can still be considered frontrunners. Fabrizio Romano has insisted a deal for Gakpo remains very much alive, and the numbers involved are staggering. Having already agreed a £135m double deal with City for Savinho and Omar Marmoush, Tottenham's summer spending would rocket past £450m if Gakpo is added to the pile.
Roberto De Zerbi has identified the Dutchman as his third attacking signing. Whether City's late interest turns this into a genuine three-way scrap, or simply forces Spurs to pay a little more than they hoped, is the question that now hangs over the deal.