Manchester City have moved quickly in the race for Cody Gakpo, and the Liverpool forward’s reported decision to join the club could prove to be one of the most significant moves of the transfer window.
According to latest reports, Gakpo has chosen Manchester City after considering three options: staying at Liverpool, joining Tottenham Hotspur or moving to the Etihad Stadium. Talks between Manchester City and Liverpool are now advancing as both parties work towards an agreement.
The development comes at a fascinating point in the transfer window.
Liverpool are closing in on a huge deal for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, while Manchester City have seen their own attacking options change considerably after Savio and Omar Marmoush moved to Tottenham.
City’s need for another versatile forward has therefore become increasingly obvious.
And Gakpo could be exactly the type of player Enzo Maresca needs.
1. Gakpo brings proven Premier League experience
One of the biggest reasons the move makes sense is simple: Gakpo already knows the Premier League.
The Dutch international joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in 2023 and has spent the last three seasons competing at the highest level of English football.
That experience could be extremely valuable for Manchester City.
There would be no lengthy adaptation period to the physical demands of the Premier League. Gakpo understands the pace, intensity and tactical demands of English football.
He also has experience of competing for major trophies.
That makes him a significantly different proposition from a young prospect arriving from another league.
2. His Champions League experience matters
Manchester City are not simply looking for players who can perform against Premier League opposition.
The club expects to compete for the Champions League every season.
Gakpo already has substantial experience in European football and has played important matches at the highest level.
That experience could become particularly important as Maresca establishes his own Manchester City team.
A player who understands the pressure of knockout football, difficult away matches and high-stakes European nights gives the manager another trusted option.
Gakpo has also represented the Netherlands at major international tournaments, adding another layer of big-game experience to his profile.
3. Gakpo can play multiple positions
Perhaps the most obvious tactical attraction is his versatility.
Gakpo can play as a left winger, operate centrally as a forward and contribute from the right.
That flexibility could be extremely useful to Maresca.
Instead of being restricted to one position, Gakpo could move around the attacking line depending on the opponent and City’s tactical approach.
That gives the manager more options.
Manchester City could use him as a traditional wide forward, bring him inside to attack the penalty area or use him through the middle when Erling Haaland needs a rest.
This versatility could make Gakpo one of the most useful attacking players in the squad.
4. He gives City genuine cover for Haaland
This could be one of the most important reasons for the transfer.
Manchester City need another genuine option through the middle.
Haaland remains one of the most important players in the squad, but relying on one specialist centre-forward throughout a long season creates obvious problems.
Gakpo can provide an alternative.
The Dutchman has the size, technical ability and movement to operate centrally.
That does not mean he would replace Haaland.
Instead, he would give Maresca another way to play when the Norwegian is unavailable, needs a rest or when City want a different type of attacking setup.
That tactical flexibility could prove invaluable across a long season.
5. Gakpo offers another goal threat
The numbers also make the move easier to understand.
Over his last three seasons at Liverpool, Gakpo has recorded:
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2025/26: 52 appearances, 9 goals and 6 assists
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2024/25: 49 appearances, 18 goals and 6 assists
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2023/24: 53 appearances, 16 goals and 6 assists
That gives him 154 appearances, 43 goals and 18 assists across the three campaigns.
Those figures demonstrate that Gakpo is capable of contributing consistently in the final third.
His nine goals last season may look modest compared with his previous two campaigns, but context matters.
Gakpo still produced goals and assists while operating in different positions and competing for minutes within a heavily talented Liverpool attack.
A move to City could give him a different tactical role.
6. He adds physicality to the attack
Another quality that could appeal to Maresca is Gakpo’s physical presence.
He is not simply a technical winger who relies on speed and dribbling.
His height and strength allow him to compete physically with defenders and provide an alternative way for City to attack.
That could be especially useful against teams who defend deep.
Manchester City often face opponents who sit close to their own penalty area and attempt to deny space between the lines.
Having a forward capable of attacking crosses, holding the ball up and competing physically gives Maresca another solution.
7. He offers something different from Doku and Semenyo
This may be one of the strongest arguments for the transfer.
Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo offer explosive qualities, but Gakpo would provide a different profile.
Doku is renowned for his dribbling and ability to beat defenders one-on-one.
Semenyo offers power, direct running and physicality.
Gakpo can combine physical strength with technical quality and positional versatility.
That variety is exactly what a manager wants from an attacking squad.
Instead of having several players who perform similar roles, Maresca would have different tools available depending on the opposition.
8. Gakpo is entering his prime
At 27, Gakpo is not being signed purely for potential.
He is entering the prime years of his career.
That could be attractive to Manchester City.
The club can sign a player who already understands elite football while still expecting several productive years ahead of him.
It also means Gakpo should be physically and mentally prepared for the demands of playing for a club where every match carries enormous expectations.
He has already experienced the pressure of playing for Liverpool and the Netherlands.
Moving to Manchester City would be a major step, but it would not be an entirely unfamiliar environment.
9. He has reportedly chosen Manchester City
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of this transfer saga is the player’s reported preference.
Gakpo reportedly had three options after Liverpool moved closer to signing Barcola: remain at Anfield, join Tottenham or move to Manchester City.
He chose City.
That matters.
Manchester City are not simply trying to convince a player to join them. According to the latest reports, the player himself has indicated that the Etihad is his preferred destination.
That could make negotiations easier.
It also demonstrates that City remain an attractive destination during a new era under Maresca.
10. Gakpo gives Maresca tactical flexibility
Ultimately, this could be the biggest reason Manchester City want him.
Maresca would have multiple ways of using Gakpo.
He could play wide on the left.
He could operate on the right.
He could move into a central attacking position.
He could provide cover for Haaland.
He could also be used as part of a more fluid attacking system where forwards constantly interchange positions.
That flexibility is extremely valuable.
Manchester City’s squad has undergone significant changes, and the departures of Savio and Marmoush have reduced Maresca’s options in wide areas. Sky Sports reported that City even went into their recent win over Crystal Palace without a natural winger on the bench.
That makes the Gakpo pursuit far easier to understand.
The timing of the move is crucial
The timing could not be more interesting.
Liverpool are preparing to add Barcola in a deal that could reach £123 million, while City have lost two attacking options to Tottenham.
That has created a situation where Gakpo’s future suddenly makes sense for all parties.
Liverpool can potentially cash in on a player who may face increased competition.
Gakpo can move to a club where he believes he has a strong chance of competing for major honours.
And Manchester City can add an experienced Premier League forward with the versatility to fill several roles.
Sky Sports reports that talks between City and Liverpool are already underway, while other reports have placed Liverpool’s valuation of Gakpo around £85 million.
The financial side remains the biggest question.
City still need to complete the deal
For all the excitement, supporters should remember that Gakpo is not yet officially a Manchester City player.
The reports are extremely strong, with multiple major outlets now reporting that City have opened negotiations and that Gakpo prefers a move to the Etihad.
However, Manchester City and Liverpool still have to reach an agreement.
That could be complicated by the size of Liverpool’s valuation and the fact that the transfer window is approaching its deadline.
Nevertheless, the direction of travel is becoming increasingly clear.
A major statement from Maresca’s Manchester City
If Manchester City complete the signing of Cody Gakpo, it will be more than another transfer.
It will be a statement about the club’s ambitions under Maresca.
The Italian is building his own version of Manchester City after succeeding Guardiola in June, and Gakpo would give him an experienced forward capable of operating in several different roles.
The numbers are strong.
The Premier League experience is there.
The Champions League experience is there.
The physical qualities are there.
The versatility is there.
And, perhaps most importantly, the player reportedly wants Manchester City.
With 43 goals and 18 assists in 154 appearances for Liverpool over the last three seasons, Gakpo has already demonstrated that he can contribute at the highest level.
Now the question is whether City can complete the agreement.
If they do, Maresca could have one of the most versatile attacking options in the Premier League at his disposal.
And suddenly, the Cody Gakpo transfer makes a lot more sense.
