Tottenham agree personal terms with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo

Tottenham agree personal terms with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement on personal terms with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, according to reports in the Netherlands. The move comes as the North London club prepares for a busy conclusion to the summer transfer window, with further signings planned and a deal for Manchester City winger Savinho described as close.

The potential arrival of the Netherlands international follows reports from Voetbal that Roberto De Zerbi has identified Gakpo as a major target, resulting in an agreement in principle regarding the move. However, the transfer remains subject to Liverpool's willingness to sell. The Reds have maintained they will not consider allowing Gakpo to depart without first securing a suitable replacement.

While some reports suggest a breakthrough, Sky reports that sources close to Gakpo deny any agreement exists between the player and Tottenham, though they acknowledge a move to North London is a serious option this summer.

Defensive overhaul and departures

The pursuit of Gakpo coincides with a confirmed overhaul of the Tottenham defense. The club has confirmed the departure of captain Cristian Romero, who has joined Atletico Madrid in a deal worth 40 million euros (£34.1m). The agreement includes a 15 per cent sell-on clause.

Romero, who made 156 appearances for Spurs, ended his five-year spell with an emotional farewell on Instagram. He reflected on the sacrifice required to end the club's 17-year trophy drought, having been named man of the match in the 2025 Europa League final against Manchester United.

"The journey wasn’t perfect, but I don’t want that to define my goodbye. I choose to remember the happy moments, the lessons, the people who stood by me and, above all, the love I received during these five years."

Cristian Romero, former Tottenham captain, via Instagram

In addition to Romero, Djed Spence has also completed his exit from the club. To fill the gaps in the squad, Tottenham have expressed interest in Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen, joining Manchester United and Arsenal in their pursuit of the striker.

Broader transfer activity

The movement involving Gakpo is part of a wider scramble among Premier League giants as the window nears its close. Arsenal are currently leading the race for Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood, a 21-year-old valued by the Seagulls at around £43m, though the deal could reach the £50m range. The Gunners are also pursuing Jarell Quansah, though Bayer Leverkusen has reportedly decided the defender is not for sale.

At Chelsea, the deadline for bids for Enzo Fernandez passed at 5pm on Friday. Despite interest from Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, no bid matching Chelsea's £120m valuation was submitted. Consequently, the club expects the 25-year-old to remain at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are navigating their own attacking reinforcements. While the Gakpo situation unfolds, the Reds are prioritizing a deal for PSG winger Bradley Barcola, although those negotiations are currently paused. They are also preparing a bid for another PSG player, 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye.

Ownership changes at Anfield

The transfer activity at Liverpool arrives alongside a major shift in ownership. A consortium led by 1892 Holdings, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, has reached a definitive agreement with Fenway Sports Group to purchase a minority stake. The consortium will hold a 30 per cent share of the club, valued at £1.5bn.

Despite the arrival of Bezos, whose personal wealth is estimated at $270bn, the club has stated there will be no change to Liverpool's transfer budget or policy. No new funds have been allocated for manager Andoni Iraola as he seeks to bolster the squad.

The transfer window is set to close on 1 September, leaving a narrow window for Tottenham to finalize the Gakpo deal and their other pending targets.