Manchester City are in talks to sign Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo and have reportedly agreed personal terms with the Netherlands international’s representatives, according to reports in the Netherlands.
The Premier League club are understood to be preparing an offer worth 100m euros for the 27-year-old, despite having made an excellent start to the season. Reports cited by Mundo Deportivo suggest City do not consider their transfer business complete and are looking to strengthen their squad further.
A move for Gakpo at that fee would immediately make him the most expensive transfer in the history of the Netherlands.
That record is currently held by Frenkie de Jong, who moved from Ajax to Barcelona in 2019 for an initial 75m euros, with a further 11m euros potentially payable in add-ons.
However, Liverpool have not yet given permission for Gakpo to leave and are unwilling to sanction a transfer until they have secured a suitable replacement. The club are already closing in on Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, but are also continuing their search for another high-quality winger.
City’s reported interest therefore depends not only on whether they submit the expected offer, but also on Liverpool’s ability to bring in reinforcements before allowing Gakpo to depart.
Gakpo joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven and has established himself as an important attacking option for the club. His ability to operate as a forward or from a wide position is understood to be part of the attraction for Manchester City, although the available reports do not indicate that a transfer has been completed.
The proposed 100m-euro fee would represent a significant increase on the current Dutch transfer record set by De Jong. It would also make Gakpo one of the most expensive players to move between two Premier League clubs, although the original reports focus on the potential significance of the deal for Dutch football.
For now, Liverpool remain in control of the situation. The club’s stance is that Gakpo can leave only once an appropriate replacement has been found, with Barcola among the players linked to a move to Anfield and another winger also being sought.
Manchester City have yet to formally complete the deal, but an agreement with Gakpo’s agents would represent an important step if the reports prove accurate. The next stage is expected to be whether City make the proposed 100m-euro approach and whether Liverpool accept it after securing the attacking cover they want.
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