Richard Hughes takes Cody Gakpo transfer decision amid interest from Spurs and Man City

Liverpool have got a big decision to make over Cody Gakpo.

With deals live for two extra wide forwards the 27-year-old Dutchman risks quickly becoming surplus to requirements at Anfield.

The 2024/25 Premier League champions are chasing Bradley Barcola and Yankuba Minteh before the summer transfer window closes.

Will LFC sacrifice Gakpo for Barcola and Minteh?

Barcola could cost up to €140m according to various sources having already okayed a deal to move to Merseyside from Paris Saint-Germain.

Brighton winger Minteh, 22, would also like a move to Anfield - but having seen bids worth £50m and £60m rejected last week Richard Hughes needs to get closer to the Seagulls’ £70m valuation before a trigger is pulled.

All this transfer movement is bound to have an impact on the players already on the books. And one forward in the sights of at least two Premier League rivals is Cody Gakpo.

Gakpo wanted by Spurs and Man City

The 27-year-old is wanted by both Tottenham and Manchester City after interest from Enzo Maresca’s side was confirmed on Monday.

Gakpo is a long-term target for Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi who according to a report in TEAMtalk wants to use the former PSV captain as a No9.

City have got a forward shortage following the sale of Savio to Spurs and the expected departure of Omar Marmoush to the London club. Gakpo fits the bill for the Cityzens with Liverpool thought to be valuing the forward at around £72m.

But the report is now claiming that the Reds have got ZERO intention of letting go of Gakpo this summer regardless of the chases for Barcola and Minteh.

Iraola rates Gakpo highly and wants to keep him

Liverpool want to persist with their No18 who was arguably the best forward on show in the season opener against Newcastle in which he scored.

Gakpo also performed well for Andoni Iraola all throughout preseason - and looks set to play a big role under the Basque tactico if he remains at Anfield.

“Liverpool sources point to the weekend as further evidence of just how highly Iraola rates Gakpo, with the Spaniard impressed by his attitude and having now made it clear he wants to keep the Dutchman around irrespective of who else the Reds sign before the window slams shut…” the report reads.

The report claims that Gakpo had his eyes on the Merseyside exit this summer as a result of the club chasing two more wingers. He did not see a guaranteed pathway to first-team football and was prepared to look elsewhere.

It is evident now however that Gakpo does in fact feature in Iraola’s thinking with the 44-year-old leaning on the Netherlands international in the early part of his reign.

Obviously an attractive bid from either Spurs or Man City will put pressure on this stance but right now it looks as though Liverpool have got a plan for Gakpo.