City's interest in Gakpo leaves Liverpool with a delicate call
Manchester City have joined the chase for Cody Gakpo, with reports on Monday suggesting the Blues have opened talks with the forward's representative over a move to the Etihad. It is the latest twist in a summer that has been dominated by speculation over the Dutchman's future at Anfield.
Liverpool, though, are not about to make things easy. The club are said to be unwilling to let Gakpo go unless they can bring in two replacements before the 1 September deadline. That is a significant ask, and it is hard to see how they get it done quickly.
Bradley Barcola remains the priority at Anfield, a player the Reds have been linked with for months. But even if that deal gets over the line, it would still leave them short of the two arrivals they want before sanctioning a departure.
There is, of course, the small matter of what Gakpo offers on the pitch. He reminded everyone of that on Sunday, scoring in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle. It was a timely reminder of his value, even after a season in which he struggled for consistency.
City's interest is partly about the wider picture. The Blues have been Liverpool's direct title rival for nearly a decade, and weakening a competitor while strengthening themselves is a familiar playbook. Whether Liverpool are willing to play along is another matter.
To complicate things further, there is the Endrick situation. Football Insider has reported that Liverpool will find it tough to sign the Brazilian this window, despite his emergence as a target in recent weeks. Jose Mourinho, we are told, plans to keep Endrick in his Real Madrid squad for the coming campaign.
That leaves Liverpool in an awkward spot. Their priority target may not be enough on its own, their fallback option appears to be slipping away, and City are hovering with an offer that would test their resolve. It is the kind of week that defines a transfer window.