Gakpo to Spurs Would Be a Steal — and Liverpool Know It

Tottenham want Cody Gakpo. Liverpool don't want to sell him. That tension alone tells you everything about how good this move could be for Roberto de Zerbi's side.

On the surface, seven Premier League goals last season doesn't scream must-have signing. Dig into the numbers though, and Gakpo looks like one of the most undervalued attackers in the Premier League right now.

Why De Zerbi Would Get The Best Out Of Him

Gakpo isn't a left winger. Not really. He's a chameleon who happens to start on the left.

De Zerbi builds his attacks through a mobile centre forward who vacates space, combines in midfield and creates room for wide runners. That's Gakpo's natural game. He drops into the lines, links play, then attacks the back post. He's done it at Liverpool under multiple managers and the data backs it up consistently.

Spurs currently have Dominic Solanke and Mathys Tel as their main central options. Neither offers the same ability to drift wide, play as a false nine and still arrive late into the box. Gakpo does all three. For De Zerbi, that's not a luxury. That's the profile the system demands.

At 6ft 4in, he also wins aerial duels at a rate only 4% of wingers across Europe's top five leagues can match. When opponents sit deep against Spurs, De Zerbi would suddenly have the option of going direct to a physically dominant forward who can still play football on the ground. That's a real weapon.

The Stats That Make Liverpool Uncomfortable About Selling

Let's talk numbers, because they're the real story here.

Despite Liverpool finishing fifth last season, Gakpo posted 8.59 expected goals, 87 shots and 10 big chances created. He ranked in the 98th percentile for shot frequency among wide forwards in Europe's top five leagues. Only seven wingers on the continent averaged more touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes.

Compare that with what Spurs had. Richarlison created half as many big chances and took 26 fewer shots. Tel and Solanke both fell well short across the key attacking metrics. Randal Kolo Muani, who spent last season on loan at Spurs, also didn't get close to Gakpo's output.

The penalty box numbers are particularly striking. Gakpo registered 187 touches inside the opposition area last season. Richarlison managed 125. Tel recorded 68. Solanke just 55. In Premier League football, where space is tight and chances are rare, those numbers separate a top-four forward from a mid-table one.

His 30 offsides last season, more than any other Premier League player, also tell you something important. He's not hanging around waiting for the ball. He's constantly running the channels, testing the line, looking for the killer pass. That's the mindset De Zerbi wants at the top of his press.

What Liverpool Lose If They Say Yes

Mohamed Salah is already gone. Hugo Ekitike is still working his way back from an Achilles injury. Liverpool are chasing Bradley Barcola from PSG, but even if that deal lands, they'd be relying heavily on Victor Munoz and 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha to fill the gaps.

Selling Gakpo into that situation would be bold to say the least.

Since November 2024, only Salah has scored more Premier League goals for Liverpool than Gakpo's 17. In terms of consistent attacking output from a wide position, he's been the most reliable option Arne Slot had outside of Salah. Losing both in the same window creates a problem that no amount of squad depth paper over.

Liverpool know that. Which is why any deal would need to be at a significant fee. Spurs would be buying a player the selling club actively wants to keep. That's never cheap.

Our Verdict and the Betting Angle

If this transfer goes through, back Spurs to finish in the top four next Premier League season. De Zerbi's system was already showing promise and adding a forward who ranks elite across shot creation, box presence and pressing work rate would be a serious upgrade.

For outright Premier League top-four markets and Spurs season specials, Gakpo completing this move shifts the maths meaningfully. We'd also watch the Gakpo anytime scorer markets closely once pre-season gets underway. A change of scenery and a manager whose system fits him perfectly could easily produce the 15-plus goal campaign his underlying numbers have been pointing at for two seasons.

Liverpool won't make this easy. But the data makes one thing clear. Spurs know exactly what they'd be getting, and so do the Reds.