Cody Gakpo has reportedly decided that his next destination will be Manchester City, and the news has sparked a huge reaction among supporters on social media.
According to a report from The Sun, the Liverpool forward has chosen to join Manchester City, with talks now advancing as the two clubs work towards an agreement.
The report suggests that Gakpo has made his decision, although a final agreement between Manchester City and Liverpool still needs to be reached.
That distinction has not stopped City supporters from debating the potential transfer.
Within minutes of City Xtra sharing the news on X, fans were already expressing excitement, disbelief, frustration and even outright anger.
For some supporters, Gakpo choosing Manchester City is a major statement of intent. For others, the Dutch international is simply not the player they want the club to sign.
Manchester City fans immediately divided over Gakpo
The reaction to the Gakpo news could hardly have been more mixed.
Some Manchester City supporters immediately welcomed the possibility of seeing the Liverpool attacker at the Etihad.
One fan, 10, reacted with an emphatic:
“BOMBAAAAAA”
The post attracted more than 300 interactions, showing just how quickly the news captured the attention of the City fanbase.
Another supporter, JA, responded with several heart-eye emojis, while Let’sTalkCity simply wrote:
“Wow 🤩”
Meanwhile, koal responded:
“nicee”
There was also a more direct reaction from Rory Starbrook, who made his feelings perfectly clear with:
“F**k yes”
For this group of supporters, the potential arrival of Gakpo is exactly the kind of attacking reinforcement Manchester City should be pursuing.
“When you see the future…”
Perhaps the most positive reaction came from Nico, who suggested that Gakpo’s decision is proof of Manchester City’s continued appeal.
The supporter wrote:
“When you see the future you will decide to join the winning team”
It is a sentiment that will undoubtedly please those inside the City fanbase who believe the club remains one of the most attractive destinations in world football.
Manchester City are entering a new era under Enzo Maresca after the Italian succeeded Pep Guardiola in June 2026.
The club’s ability to attract an established Premier League attacker such as Gakpo would therefore be viewed by some supporters as an important indication that the transition away from Guardiola has not damaged City’s pulling power.
For those fans, Gakpo choosing City over remaining at Liverpool would be another reason to be optimistic about the new era.
But not everyone wants Gakpo at the Etihad
The excitement was far from universal.
Several supporters reacted negatively to the possibility of Gakpo becoming a Manchester City player.
Max1211 referred to the Dutchman as “Gakpo the rat”, while David Ruben Aguero responded:
“No. Pathetic”
Another fan, H., was equally unimpressed, describing Gakpo as a:
“Terrible signing”
Other supporters simply rejected the idea altogether.
SnqoeMasinga wrote “No!”, while André Morais responded with “Nooooo”.
The comments demonstrate that there is no universal agreement among City supporters that Gakpo is the right player for Maresca’s project.
That is perhaps unsurprising.
Manchester City supporters have become accustomed to elite-level recruitment over the past decade. Every potential signing is therefore judged against extremely high standards.
The transfer fee is already a concern
Another major talking point among supporters is the potential cost of the deal.
One City fan, AY, wrote:
“Shouldn’t be more than £50m”
That comment could become particularly relevant if Liverpool demand a significantly higher fee.
According to The Sun, Liverpool could want at least £80 million to consider selling Gakpo. The report also states that discussions between the clubs are progressing.
That potential difference in valuation could become one of the biggest obstacles to completing the transfer.
From a Manchester City perspective, paying a significant fee for Gakpo would need to make sense both financially and tactically.
There is little doubt that the forward has Premier League experience and possesses the versatility to operate in different attacking positions.
However, some supporters clearly believe there is a limit to what City should pay.
Could Gakpo affect other Manchester City targets?
Another interesting reaction came from OseOfEkpoma, who wrote:
“This affects the Ndiaye transfer by every metric”
The comment highlights another issue surrounding City’s attacking plans.
Manchester City have been linked with several attacking players during the transfer window, and bringing Gakpo to the club could potentially change the club’s priorities elsewhere.
If City complete a major deal for the Liverpool forward, Maresca and the recruitment team may decide that another attacking signing is no longer necessary.
Alternatively, Gakpo could arrive as part of a wider overhaul of the attacking department.
That would depend on the club’s plans for the rest of the transfer window.
For now, supporters can only speculate.
Gakpo’s versatility could be a major advantage
From a tactical perspective, Gakpo’s versatility is one of the most attractive aspects of a potential transfer.
The Dutchman is capable of playing from the left side but can also operate centrally.
That flexibility could prove valuable for Maresca.
The new Manchester City boss will be looking to establish his own tactical identity while maintaining the club’s competitiveness at the highest level.
Having an attacker capable of moving between positions would give the manager more options.
Gakpo’s physical presence, technical ability and experience of English football could also help him adapt quickly if the transfer eventually goes through.
But ultimately, none of those qualities will matter to sceptical supporters unless the player performs on the pitch.
“Worst” – some fans remain completely unconvinced
Not every reaction was simply cautious.
Time waits for no one. described the potential signing as:
“Worst”
Another supporter, Yaadman, responded with:
“Smh”
Meanwhile, Cardoso posted:
“eww”
That particular reaction generated a significant amount of engagement, illustrating just how strongly some supporters feel about the possibility of Gakpo joining City.
It is worth remembering that these are immediate social media reactions.
A transfer rumour can produce extreme responses before supporters have had the opportunity to properly assess the player, the transfer fee or the tactical reasoning behind the move.
If Gakpo eventually arrives and performs well, much of the criticism could disappear quickly.
One reaction showed frustration with the club itself
Perhaps the most extreme reaction came from MIT #MarescaOut, who posted a furious message directed at Manchester City.
The reaction received thousands of interactions and demonstrated that frustration among a section of the fanbase extends beyond Gakpo himself.
The supporter appears unhappy with the club’s current direction, rather than simply questioning the Dutchman’s ability.
However, this should not be interpreted as representative of the entire Manchester City fanbase.
The responses to City Xtra’s post show a much broader range of opinions, from excitement to disappointment.
Can Gakpo win over the doubters?
If Manchester City do eventually complete the deal, Gakpo will have the perfect opportunity to answer his critics.
Football supporters are often quick to change their minds when a new signing starts performing.
A strong start, important goals and decisive performances could quickly transform the narrative surrounding Gakpo.
Instead of questioning why City signed him, supporters could soon be asking how the club managed to get him from Liverpool.
The opposite is also true.
If Gakpo struggles during his first few months, the supporters who already oppose the transfer will inevitably point back to these early warnings.
That is the reality of joining Manchester City.
The expectations are enormous.
The deal is not finished yet
Despite the headline-grabbing claim that Gakpo has chosen Manchester City, supporters should remember that the transfer still needs to be completed.
A player’s decision to join a club does not automatically mean an agreement has been reached between the two teams.
Manchester City and Liverpool still need to settle the financial and contractual details.
That means there is room for further developments before Gakpo can officially be considered a City player.
For now, the biggest takeaway is that the player reportedly wants the move.
And judging by the reaction on X, City supporters have plenty to say about it.
City fans have delivered a clear verdict – but not a unanimous one
The reaction to Cody Gakpo potentially joining Manchester City has revealed a fanbase split down the middle.
Some supporters are delighted.
“BOMBAAAAAA,” “Wow 🤩,” “nicee” and “F**k yes” perfectly capture the excitement surrounding the possibility of the transfer.
Others remain completely unconvinced.
“Terrible signing,” “Worst,” “No!” and “Pathetic” demonstrate that plenty of City supporters do not believe Gakpo is the right addition.
Then there are those focused primarily on the financial side of the deal, with some fans questioning whether the Dutchman would represent value if Liverpool demand a huge fee.
Ultimately, the debate will only be settled if the transfer happens.
For now, Gakpo has reportedly chosen Manchester City, while negotiations continue between the two clubs.
If an agreement is eventually reached, Enzo Maresca could have another versatile attacking option at his disposal.
And if Gakpo starts delivering goals and performances at the Etihad, those early critics may quickly become some of his biggest supporters.
For Manchester City fans, however, the wait continues.
Gakpo may have made his choice. Now City and Liverpool have to make the deal happen.
