The deadline day transfer landscape in the Premier League is set for a significant transfer between two sides that have challenged each other for titles in recent seasons.
The Athletic reports that Cody Gakpo has picked Manchester City over Tottenham Hotspur as his next club, having decided to leave Liverpool this summer.
The departure window for the versatile Dutch attacker has been opened by the impending arrival of Bradley Barcola on Merseyside.
Gakpo had held talks with Tottenham before opting for a move to Manchester City, instead forcing Spurs to turn to other targets.
What could be the reason for the sudden change in plans for the 27-year-old, who has been at Anfield since 2023?
The Domino Effect: How Barcola’s Anfield Arrival Prompted Gakpo’s Departure
Liverpool have made no secret of their pursuit of attacking reinforcements this summer, particularly with club legend Mohamed Salah having left at the end of the 2025-26 season.
They signed Victor Munoz from Osasuna and have reached an agreement for a mammoth £123 million transfer for France international Barcola, strengthening their attacking options significantly.
The agreement to sign Barcola put Gakpo in an unfavourable position, seeing the congestion building up in his favoured position on the left side of the attack.
He had a decision to make — stay and compete in a heavily congested frontline, join Tottenham, or pivot to Manchester City — and he chose a move to the Etihad Stadium to join Enzo Maresca's rebuild.
As soon as he made this known, the Cityzens prepared an offer of £85 million for his signature, with an agreement on personal terms now already in place.
Why the Etihad Trumps North London for Gakpo
From a purely tactical perspective, Manchester City appears to be a better fit for Cody Gakpo than Tottenham.
They offer an immediate, high-leverage opening for the Dutchman that Spurs cannot match, realistically.
The state of the City squad after the sales of Omar Marmoush and Savinho to Tottenham, coupled with Jeremy Doku's injury, means Gakpo has a clear pathway to be an immediate impact player.
The former PSV Eindhoven man, who has produced 51 goals and 24 assists across 182 appearances for Liverpool, presents Maresca with a proven Premier League performer.
There is also the opportunity for the versatile forward to lead the line as the back-up striker to Erling Haaland whenever Maresca chooses to rest the Norwegian or simply rotate.
Gakpo is capable of operating seamlessly as an inside forward playing off the left flank or as a central focal point.
Away from tactics, Gakpo will realistically prefer a move from one title-challenging side to another, given the fact that Tottenham have finished just above the relegation zone in successive Premier League seasons.
This, more than anything, would have provided the ultimate sporting incentive to the Dutch attacker.
