LIVERPOOL IN MELTDOWN: GAKPO TO BE SOLD TO SPURS TO FUND £80M BARCOLA RAID AS SLOT FACES SEASON-DEFINING TRANSFER CRISIS
Anfield hierarchy prepare to tear up their attacking plans and sacrifice Dutch star as Tottenham circle like vultures – while PSG demand a king’s ransom for French flyer
Liverpool are staring down the barrel of one of the most explosive transfer sagas in recent Premier League history, with sources close to Anfield claiming the club are actively considering the sale of Cody Gakpo to Tottenham Hotspur in a desperate bid to raise funds for a blockbuster move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola.
The revelation has sent shockwaves through the red half of Merseyside. Just months after Arne Slot’s side clinched the Premier League title in stunning fashion, the Dutch manager and the club’s recruitment team find themselves entangled in a high-stakes game of transfer chess that could reshape their entire attacking unit – and leave supporters furious.
According to well-placed sources, Tottenham are waiting in the wings, ready to pounce the moment Liverpool give the green light on Gakpo. The north Londoners have long admired the 25-year-old Dutch international, whose pace, directness and eye for goal made him a key figure in Liverpool’s title triumph. But with Spurs under pressure to strengthen their own forward line, they see Gakpo as the perfect statement signing – provided Liverpool first secure their own primary target.
That target is Bradley Barcola. The 21-year-old French winger has been on Liverpool’s radar for months, with Slot reportedly viewing him as the ideal long-term successor to the ageing Mohamed Salah and a perfect foil for Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai. Yet PSG, never ones to do things by halves, are demanding a fee that sources claim could soar beyond £80 million – a figure that would stretch even Liverpool’s considerable financial muscle under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
The mathematics, insiders say, are brutal. To make the numbers work without triggering a financial crisis or selling a more central figure such as Alexis Mac Allister or Szoboszlai, Liverpool may have no choice but to cash in on Gakpo. And Tottenham, sensing blood, are prepared to wait.
“It’s a classic case of one deal unlocking another,” a source close to the negotiations told this newspaper. “Liverpool want Barcola badly. PSG know it. Tottenham know it. The only way the circle closes is if Gakpo goes to Spurs for a healthy fee – somewhere in the region of £50-60 million. That frees up the cash and the wage space for Barcola. Spurs are happy to sit tight until the Liverpool-PSG talks progress. It’s tense. Very tense.”
The timing could hardly be more delicate. The summer transfer window is hurtling towards its climax, and Liverpool’s hierarchy – led by sporting director Richard Hughes and the Fenway Sports Group decision-makers – are under intense pressure to deliver. Slot, who has already transformed the team’s style with a more fluid, high-pressing approach, is said to be desperate for more attacking options after watching his side occasionally struggle for cutting edge in the final third last season despite their title success.
Gakpo himself has been a revelation since arriving from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023. Initially signed as a versatile forward capable of playing across the front line, the Dutchman grew into a vital squad member under both Jurgen Klopp and Slot. His performances in the title-winning campaign – including crucial goals and assists – earned him hero status among the Kop faithful. To many, the idea of selling him to a direct Premier League rival feels like a betrayal.
Yet football is a ruthless business, and the whispers from inside Anfield suggest the club’s recruitment team have already begun mapping out a future without him. “Gakpo is highly regarded, make no mistake,” another source insisted. “But if selling him allows them to bring in a player of Barcola’s potential – young, explosive, with years ahead of him – then the board will seriously consider it. Slot likes Gakpo. The fans love him. But the numbers have to add up.”
Barcola’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. After shining at Lyon, the Frenchman joined PSG in the summer of 2023 and quickly established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young attackers. Quick, skilful, and capable of playing on either wing or through the middle, he has drawn comparisons to a young Kylian Mbappe – though he possesses a more team-oriented style that would fit perfectly into Slot’s system. Liverpool’s scouts have been tracking him relentlessly, and the club are understood to have already held exploratory talks with PSG.
Those talks, however, have hit a familiar obstacle: Parisian greed. PSG, flush with Qatari money and determined to extract maximum value from their assets, are in no rush. They know Liverpool’s interest is genuine. They also know that other clubs – including some from the Premier League and Serie A – are monitoring the situation. The longer the process drags on, the higher the price is likely to climb.
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s interest in Gakpo is far from new. Ange Postecoglou’s side have been linked with the Dutchman on multiple occasions, and the Australian manager is understood to admire his ability to stretch defences and create chaos in the final third. With Spurs still rebuilding after a turbulent period and looking to add proven Premier League quality, Gakpo represents an attractive option – particularly if the fee can be negotiated from a position of relative strength while Liverpool chase their own dream.
The potential for a chain reaction is clear. Should Liverpool agree terms with PSG for Barcola, the Gakpo exit would almost certainly follow in short order. Spurs would then move swiftly to formalise their interest, potentially offering a structured deal that includes add-ons and performance-related bonuses. Liverpool, for their part, would demand a significant sum to justify losing a player who still has several years left on his contract and who remains a key part of the Netherlands national team.
Fan reaction on Merseyside has already begun to simmer. Social media is ablaze with debate, with some supporters arguing that the club must be ruthless in pursuit of long-term improvement, while others insist Gakpo has earned the right to stay and fight for his place. “Selling Gakpo to Spurs would be a kick in the teeth,” one fan account posted. “He was brilliant last season. Why are we strengthening a rival just to buy someone who might not even settle?” Another countered: “Barcola is the future. If it takes selling Gakpo to get him, then so be it. Business is business.”
The emotional undercurrent is impossible to ignore. Liverpool supporters have grown accustomed to watching their club operate with a degree of financial prudence under FSG, carefully balancing the books while remaining competitive. The idea of selling a popular player to fund an even more expensive arrival is not new – the club have form in this regard – but the involvement of Tottenham adds a particularly bitter flavour. Rivalries in the Premier League run deep, and the thought of Gakpo lining up in a white shirt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is enough to make many Reds feel nauseous.
There is also the question of squad harmony. Slot has built a tight-knit group since taking over from Klopp. Players such as Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain the backbone of the side, while younger talents including Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley continue to develop. Introducing a high-profile arrival like Barcola while simultaneously waving goodbye to Gakpo would require careful management. Sources suggest Slot has been kept fully informed of the situation and is supportive of the club’s ambition – provided the overall balance of the squad is not compromised.
Beyond the immediate financial and sporting considerations lies a broader strategic picture. Liverpool’s attacking options next season are expected to feature Salah, Nunez, Luis Diaz, Szoboszlai and potentially a new signing. Gakpo has often been used as a rotational option or impact substitute, and while his contribution has been valuable, the club’s hierarchy appear to believe Barcola offers greater upside over the medium to long term. At 21, the Frenchman has the potential to develop into a world-class performer capable of leading the line for a decade. Gakpo, for all his qualities, is entering what many would consider the peak years of his career.
PSG’s stance remains the greatest unknown. The French champions have a history of driving hard bargains, as Liverpool discovered during previous dealings. Whether they are prepared to negotiate a more realistic fee – or whether they will dig in and force Liverpool to walk away – remains to be seen. Some reports suggest PSG could be open to a deal if a suitable replacement is identified, but others insist the club are in no mood to sell one of their brightest prospects cheaply.
Tottenham, for their part, are playing a waiting game. Postecoglou’s side have already conducted significant business this summer, but the Australian is understood to still want another attacking reinforcement. Gakpo fits the profile perfectly: experienced in the Premier League, capable of playing in multiple positions, and available at a price that, while substantial, would not break the bank in the same way as a true superstar signing.
As the days tick by, the pressure on all parties will only intensify. Liverpool must decide whether the pursuit of Barcola is worth the risk of losing Gakpo to a rival. Tottenham must decide how long they are prepared to wait before looking elsewhere. And PSG must decide whether they are serious about cashing in or simply enjoying the attention and inflating the price.
What is certain is that the situation has already created a combustible atmosphere around Anfield. Supporters are on edge. The media are circling. And the players themselves – particularly Gakpo – will be watching developments with more than a passing interest. For a club that prides itself on careful planning and long-term vision, the current transfer puzzle represents a genuine test of nerve.
Should the deal go through, Liverpool could emerge with a dynamic young attacker capable of lighting up the Premier League for years to come. But the cost – both financial and emotional – of sacrificing Gakpo to Spurs would leave a bitter aftertaste. Fail to land Barcola, and the club risk finishing the window weaker than they started, with a frustrated fanbase and questions over their ambition.
In the cut-throat world of modern football, there are rarely perfect solutions. Liverpool are about to discover just how imperfect the current one may prove to be. The coming days will reveal whether Slot and his recruitment team have the courage – and the financial flexibility – to pull the trigger on a move that could define their next era. Or whether they will blink first, leave Gakpo in situ, and watch Barcola remain in Paris while Tottenham turn their attentions elsewhere.
One thing is beyond dispute: the drama at Anfield is far from over. And when the dust finally settles, someone – whether Gakpo, Barcola, or the Liverpool hierarchy itself – is going to be left counting the cost.
The transfer window has delivered many twists and turns over the years. Few, however, have carried the potential to reshape a title-winning squad quite so dramatically as this. Liverpool stand at a crossroads. The path they choose will be scrutinised for seasons to come. And right now, the road ahead looks anything but straightforward.