Should Liverpool sell Cody Gakpo?

The noise surrounding Cody Gakpo doesn’t seem to be diminishing.

Tottenham Hotspur have been repeatedly linked with the 27-year-old forward, but Liverpool maintain he is not for sale.

As Liverpool begin a new era under head coach Andoni Iraola, this could have been the ideal time for a clean slate. Cashing in on a player who underperformed last season in a seller’s market this summer makes plenty of sense — but it is not that easy in reality.

On the eve of the new season, Iraola’s squad remains incomplete, particularly in attacking areas. Mohamed Salah has departed, Hugo Ekitike is continuing a long recovery from his Achilles injury, and Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott have both had ineffective pre-seasons. Yet there has been a lack of activity in the transfer market.

Liverpool were short of attacking players last season, and too often former head coach Arne Slot was unable to bring on plausible game-changers from the bench. Spain international Victor Munoz, 23, has arrived from Osasuna, but from a numbers perspective, he essentially replaces Salah.

The pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, 23, continues. Liverpool have also shown exploratory interest in his team-mate and fellow forward Ibrahim Mbaye, 18, but that is yet to advance.

Two-in, one-out sounds fine but there is a strong argument that Liverpool should not sell Gakpo.

The Dutch international has been a standout performer in his two pre-season appearances. He has looked rejuvenated and has taken little time to adapt to Iraola’s new system.

Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Gakpo continues to excel at major tournaments for the Netherlands, building momentum for when he returns to his club.

Last season was Gakpo’s toughest campaign at Anfield since his arrival from PSV in January 2023. It began with the boost of a fresh new contract following the sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich which confirmed his place as starting left winger.

The extension was a reward for the part he had played in 2024-25’s title success — he scored 18 goals and provided six assists in 49 appearances in all competitions — but the club also thought he would go to the next level.

Instead, like many of his team-mates, he regressed.

Gakpo’s biggest issue was his predictability. Time and again he would receive the ball with seemingly only one thought in his mind — cut inside and shoot. What had been a great strength in the previous season, the first in which he consistently played as a left winger at Liverpool, became a weakness last term, with space in the attacking third at a premium because of slow build-up play and opponents wise to his go-to move.

He was part of a frontline press that was ineffective, lacking pace and dynamism. He also failed to form a strong partnership with left-back Milos Kerkez.

Early signs under Iraola have been much more positive. They were underlined by his two goal contributions in the friendly against Como, highlighting the confidence he built during the World Cup.

His goal was a calm touch and finish with his weaker right foot from a Jeremie Frimpong cross…

…and his assist for Jeremy Jacquet was relatively simple, but had to be executed well.

Gakpo’s back-post threat was a theme of Liverpool’s title success in 2024-25, but was virtually non-existent last season. It has been prominent in the two pre-season friendlies, including his goal against Como. It was his knockdown against Monaco that led to Liverpool’s second goal, and he nearly scored before that with a header.

Gakpo’s position has been slightly tweaked too, as the image below shows.

He seems to have more freedom, frequently occupying the inside left channel while Liverpool’s left-back is advanced to provide width. It allows him to be more involved in the game, driving forwards from more central positions…

… or dropping deep to involve himself in build-up.

He is involved in fewer one-versus-one situations, but he is still being asked to provide width at times. It has been encouraging to see variety back in his game.

Against Monaco he played a neat one-two with Kostas Tsimikas to reach the byline and find Lewis Koumas at the back post.

In another example, he burst through the middle of two Como players and found Alexander Isak in the area, but the striker’s touch let him down.

Playing well in pre-season does not equate to performing when the real business begins but these are encouraging signs. And there are more reasons to consider.

Liverpool are under no pressure to sell Gakpo from a contractual standpoint. If they were to sign one or two wingers before the window shuts, for what would be a significant outlay, naturally you would expect exits to offset some of the spending and create space in the squad. Curtis Jones looks the most likely departure with Inter still circling, but the one year left on his deal means a lower fee will be received if it does happen.

Barcola, of course, is also most comfortable on the left, making him direct competition for Gakpo. Rio Ngumoha and Munoz prefer to operate from that flank too. It is quite the logjam, but Gakpo’s own versatility could be pivotal to Liverpool, especially in the first half of the season before Ekitike returns.

Isak and Florian Wirtz will be crucial this season, but with the France international unavailable, and both unlikely to be available for every game, Gakpo looks best placed to provide back-up in the No 9 role to Isak. There is also an argument that, because of Wirtz’s No 10 role in which he is encouraged to essentially form a front two with Isak (as the earlier image showed), Gakpo could also be useful in that role too.

There has been discussion about Liverpool losing leaders with Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konate following Salah’s exit. Further Premier League experience would go should Gakpo depart.

A group of wingers involving Ngumoha, Barcola, Munoz and Mbaye does whet the appetite. The talent is undoubted and it is full of pace, dynamism and threat, but a lot of faith is being placed in three players who have never played in English football before and another who turns 18 this month.

If a substantial bid from Tottenham is tabled, then Liverpool will have some thinking to do, but last season showed it is better to be overstocked than understocked.