Liverpool's refusal to sell Gakpo to City called a sensible call
Liverpool opted to keep Cody Gakpo despite his interest in joining Manchester City, with the club rejecting an £80m offer. The decision came after evaluating potential replacements like Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr, but the club concluded selling would weaken the squad. The move is seen as prudent given existing concerns about depth at right-back and midfield.
Liverpool's decision came after weighing two potential replacements. Brighton's Yankuba Minteh had already drawn two rejected bids of £50m and £60m, but he is sidelined roughly two months following leg surgery and managed just three goals and four assists in 34 league appearances last season. Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr posted stronger numbers—nine goals in 28 matches—yet at nearly 29, a fee above £60m looked poor value.
The club's stance was reinforced publicly by captain Virgil van Dijk, who urged keeping Gakpo for both quality and friendship reasons. Gakpo accepted the outcome and rejoined training normally Tuesday. The saga unfolded amid broader squad concerns, including an injured Conor Bradley, struggling Jeremie Frimpong at right-back, and no specialist defensive midfielder signed after Curtis Jones's departure.
This decision could resonate beyond Liverpool's dressing room, signaling that elite clubs may resist selling key attacking talent to direct rivals even at premium prices. For supporters, it may reinforce confidence in squad stability during a transitional season under a new head coach. For Gakpo, the episode could test his long-term commitment, though public sentiment appears sympathetic. The outcome may also influence how other clubs approach late-window bids for established starters, potentially reducing disruptive transfer sagas league-wide.