Tottenham Hotspur aren’t slowing down. Fresh off wrapping up deals for Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, the North London club is already eyeing its next statement signing — and according to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo has landed firmly on their shortlist.
This summer has seen Spurs go on one of the biggest spending sprees in Europe as Roberto De Zerbi looks to overhaul a squad that endured a rough Premier League season and only just avoided the drop. The rebuild kicked off with shrewd signings — Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dúbravka — before the club moved onto bigger targets. Jan Paul van Hecke arrived for north of £50 million, and the midfield was transformed with the £185 million combined outlay on Fernandes and Tonali.
Those midfield additions have all but sealed João Palhinha’s exit, with the Portuguese international already bidding an emotional farewell to fans after Tottenham chose not to trigger his roughly £22 million buy option.
Attention Turns to the Final Piece: A Left-Sided Attacker
With the backline and midfield overhauled, Spurs are now zeroing in on attacking reinforcements. Names like Manchester City’s Savinho, AC Milan’s Rafael Leão and West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville have all been floated — and now Gakpo joins that mix.
Per Romano, Tottenham rate the Dutch international highly, but a deal is far from straightforward since Liverpool currently have no intention of selling. The Reds haven’t told Gakpo he’s up for grabs, nor have they engaged with Spurs on any potential transfer. Romano notes Tottenham’s interest is real, but Liverpool are holding firm for now — though he suggests things could shift if Spurs come forward with a serious bid later in the window.
Any pursuit won’t come cheap. Gakpo reportedly pockets around £250,000 a week, and Liverpool would demand a hefty fee before letting a key attacker move to a direct rival.
Leão Could Be the Fallback Option
If the Gakpo route stalls, Tottenham may have a plan B. Italian reports suggest AC Milan could let Rafael Leão go for around €60 million (£51 million) — well below the price tag many expected for one of Europe’s most feared wingers. Leão himself has hinted he’s ready for a fresh challenge after a strong spell at San Siro, with the Premier League said to be his top choice. That’s put Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United all on alert as they hunt for left-wing options.
For De Zerbi, landing a top-tier attacker is seen as the last major building block of this summer’s rebuild — the finishing touch after major investment in defense and midfield. Whether it ends up being Gakpo, Leão or someone else entirely, one thing looks certain: Tottenham’s transfer business isn’t finished yet, with another big move expected before the window shuts.
