Anfield Reset: Liverpool’s Calculated Stance on a Cody Gakpo Exit

As the summer transfer window looms, Liverpool is reportedly open to parting ways with the Dutch forward should a significant £70 million bid arrive.

The Anfield corridors are buzzing again, and this time, the spotlight has swung firmly onto Cody Gakpo. After a 2025-26 season that left both the club and its supporters underwhelmed, speculation regarding the 27-year-old’s future has reached a fever pitch. While the initial noise suggested the player was pushing for an exit, more grounded reports clarify that Gakpo hasn’t formally requested a move. Instead, we are seeing a classic case of summer rumour mongering that masks a very pragmatic reality: Liverpool isn't actively shopping him, but they are certainly ready to listen.

For those who watched Liverpool closely this past year, the narrative that Gakpo is solely to blame for the team's struggles feels misplaced. Under former head coach Arne Slot, the forward was often left carrying the weight of a depleted attack following the departures of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nuñez. With the squad’s depth gutted and reinforcements failing to materialize, Gakpo was frequently one of the few fit options available. Now, with Andoni Iraloa stepping in as the new head coach, the club is clearly looking to overhaul a misfiring front line, making any player—including Gakpo—a potential asset for generating transfer capital.

The Financial Tug-of-War

The £70 million figure being touted is telling. It matches the benchmark set by Barcelona’s recent acquisition of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle, signaling that Liverpool views Gakpo as a premium talent in a surging market. If a club meets this valuation, Liverpool would consider a Gakpo sale to fund a more balanced squad. Bayern Munich, who narrowly missed out on the Dutchman last summer, might view this as a second chance, while interest from Serie A remains—though whether Italian giants can match these Premier League price tags remains a significant hurdle.

Why it matters

This situation exposes the precarious state of Liverpool’s current attacking depth. If the club does move Gakpo on, they would be left with a skeletal senior group: Alexander Isak as the primary striker and the teenage prospect Rio Ngumoha as the only established winger, with Hugo Ekitike sidelined long-term.

From the desk of the correspondent, the big picture is clear: Liverpool is entering a transitional phase where sentimentality is being traded for structural efficiency. The club is moving toward a total reset under Iraloa, and the willingness to entertain a £70 million exit suggests they are prioritizing a tactical rebuild over maintaining a squad that hasn't delivered. Whether they can find a suitable replacement before the season kicks off is the real test of their recruitment strategy.