Liverpool have decided to keep Cody Gakpo after rejecting a huge £80 million offer from Manchester City, bringing the Dutch international’s proposed move to the Etihad Stadium to an abrupt halt.
City had been pushing to sign the 27-year-old before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, but Liverpool have concluded that they cannot afford to lose another attacker without securing a suitable replacement. Sky Sports News reports that the Reds are therefore unwilling to sanction Gakpo’s departure in this window.
Gakpo had been open to joining City and the Premier League rivals held talks over a potential agreement. However, Liverpool’s inability to secure another forward has ultimately proved decisive.
Liverpool reject City’s huge offer
Manchester City’s formal proposal was worth £75m guaranteed plus £5m in add-ons, taking the overall package to £80m.
Liverpool rejected the offer and talks between the clubs are now considered off.
Some reports had put City’s potential package as high as £85m, but Sky Sports and reports citing The Athletic say the formal bid rejected by Liverpool was worth £80m.
The decision represents a significant U-turn after Gakpo appeared increasingly likely to leave Anfield.
City had opened talks with Liverpool over the weekend, with the Netherlands international preferring a move to the Etihad over Tottenham Hotspur if Liverpool sanctioned his departure.
Liverpool have now informed the relevant parties that Gakpo is staying, and the forward has accepted the club’s decision.
Replacement problem kills Gakpo move
Liverpool’s reluctance to sell is primarily linked to their inability to find an acceptable replacement before the window closes.
The Reds had explored Crystal Palace winger Ismaïla Sarr among their options. Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh had also previously been considered.
However, with time running out, Liverpool have decided that selling Gakpo would leave Andoni Iraola’s attacking options too thin.
That is despite completing the blockbuster signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for £106m plus £17m in potential add-ons on Monday.
Barcola’s preferred position is on the left, where Gakpo has regularly operated, but Liverpool have opted to retain both players rather than cash in on the Dutchman.
Gakpo also signed a new long-term Liverpool contract in August 2025, meaning the club was under no contractual pressure to sell.
Van Dijk gets his wish as Gakpo stays
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk had publicly made clear that he wanted his Netherlands team-mate to remain at Anfield.
Asked about Gakpo’s future after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, Van Dijk backed the forward’s quality and expressed hope that the club would keep him.
Gakpo has already made an impact this season, scoring against Newcastle United and providing an assist against Forest.
He has scored 51 goals in 182 Liverpool appearances since joining from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023.
The decision means Gakpo will now remain part of Iraola’s attacking group alongside Barcola, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitiké, Rio Ngumoha and Victor Muñoz.
Man City switch attention elsewhere
City must now move quickly to alternative targets.
Sky Sports reports that Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye has returned to consideration after Liverpool blocked Gakpo’s departure, although Tottenham are already advanced in negotiations for the Senegal international.
City are also pursuing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández as they attempt to strengthen Enzo Maresca’s squad before the deadline.
For Gakpo, however, the uncertainty appears over. A transfer that looked increasingly possible over the weekend has collapsed, and the Netherlands international is now set to continue his career at Anfield.
