Cody Gakpo snubs Tottenham for Man City as Liverpool make transfer decision

The final few days of a transfer window are often known as silly season, but what is going on with Cody Gakpo at Liverpool is pretty unbelievable.

The Dutch international has started both of the Reds' Premier League matches this season, scoring an absolute rocket at St James' Park last Sunday, before an inch-perfect cross set up Alexander Isak to score against Nottingham Forest.

Nevertheless, just a few hours after the latter, it has been confirmed that this will be the final time we ever see Gakpo at Anfield in a red shirt.

Earlier in the day, it had been reported that the 27 year old would hold talks with the club following Saturday's match, and it appears as though these talks were decisive.

That's because, as reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic on Saturday night, Gakpo "has decided to join Manchester City".

He notes that Tottenham Hotspur were also interested in the Dutchman's signature, but the forward has decided against a move to North London. Perhaps he watched Spurs' meager defeat to Newcastle on Saturday evening, or their shambolic loss at Brentford a week ago, or any number of Tottenham matches across the last two seasons.

Instead, he will be heading to the Etihad, with Ornstein noting that the Reds and the Citizens "are now in talks to reach an agreement". Ben Jacobs of Talk Sport adds that the winger "wants to leave" and that "an opening bid has already been made" by Man City, with "formal talks" between the two clubs continuing.

The Sky Blues have sold Rodri, Omar Marmoush, Sávio, Tijjani Reijnders, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Aké, James Trafford and Nico González for a combined £340 million this summer, so will certainly have the funds to match Liverpool's demands.

Meantime, where does this leave Andoni Iraola's squad build? Well, it was widely reported on Saturday morning that Bradley Barcola is set to travel to Merseyside for a medical. The French international will finalise an £123 million move from Paris Saint-Germain.

So, it would appear on the surface as though Barcola is going to take Gakpo's place on the left side of attack. However, interestingly, Iraola actually deployed the Netherlands international on the right against Nottingham Forest, with scorer Víctor Muñoz on the left.

Thus, if Gakpo is on the way out, it is not because he isn't in the head coach's plans. On the contrary, his versatility will be severely missed, able to be deployed all across the front three, including being a serviceable deputy to Alexander Isak at centre-forward.

Reports earlier on Saturday stated that, even with Barcola on his way, the Reds would only considering selling Gakpo is another attacker is on their way.

Who that might be, with just over 72 hours until the window slams shut, Yankuba Minteh and Ismaïla Sarr the two players most strongly linked, remains to be seen.

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