Tottenham Hotspur have already made a statement with their spending this summer, but Roberto De Zerbi appears to believe his rebuilding project is still missing some vital ingredients in attack.
Spurs have invested heavily in strengthening the spine of the squad, bringing in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes to give the midfield greater quality, energy and control. At the other end of the pitch, the arrival of Andy Robertson has added experience, leadership and proven Premier League quality to the defence.
The scale of Tottenham’s recruitment is understandable. De Zerbi inherited a side that came perilously close to relegation last season, finishing 17th and only narrowly escaping the drop. The Italian coach is therefore determined to reshape the squad quickly and ensure Spurs are not involved in another relegation battle.
However, despite the considerable investment already made, Tottenham’s attacking options still appear to need further strengthening. The club have been pursuing Manchester City winger Savinho while also considering several options at centre-forward, including former Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun.
The objective seems clear: De Zerbi wants greater pace, creativity, goals and tactical flexibility around Dominic Solanke, Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus, particularly with Kudus expected to return from his injury setback.
One name that has repeatedly emerged in Tottenham’s search for another attacking weapon is Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo.
The Dutch international would offer De Zerbi considerable versatility. Gakpo is naturally comfortable operating from the left, where he can cut inside onto his stronger right foot, but he has also demonstrated that he can play centrally as a striker. That ability to occupy multiple attacking positions makes him particularly attractive to a manager who likes his forwards to interchange positions and create overloads.
At 27, Gakpo would also bring something Tottenham desperately need: experience at the highest level. He is no longer an emerging prospect who needs time to adapt to English football. Instead, he has established himself as a reliable Premier League attacker after making the move to Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023.
His introduction to English football was relatively gradual. Gakpo scored seven goals in 26 appearances during his first months at Anfield, but he steadily became a more important and adaptable member of Liverpool’s squad as he learned to operate in different attacking roles.
His most productive campaign came during the 2024/25 season, when he scored 18 goals in all competitions as Liverpool lifted the Premier League title. One of those goals came against Tottenham on the day Liverpool officially secured the championship, underlining the Dutchman’s ability to contribute in important matches.
His numbers dipped last season, with Gakpo recording nine goals and six assists across 52 appearances in all competitions. Nevertheless, his overall contribution extends beyond simply scoring goals. His versatility, physical presence, ability to carry the ball and willingness to operate in different positions would give De Zerbi another tactical option.
For Tottenham, that flexibility could prove particularly valuable. Rather than relying heavily on Solanke for goals or asking Kudus and Richarlison to carry the attacking burden, Gakpo could provide another dependable outlet capable of playing wide or through the middle.
There is, however, one major obstacle: Liverpool have little reason to sell.
Gakpo signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool last August reportedly worth around £250,000 per week, putting the player firmly under the club’s control. With Liverpool also reshaping their own attacking options under Andoni Iraola, there is no obvious indication that they need to cash in on one of their established forwards.
That means Tottenham would likely have to make a substantial financial commitment if they want to convince Liverpool to negotiate.
Nevertheless, the latest reports suggest Spurs are becoming increasingly serious about the possibility of bringing Gakpo to North London.
According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Tottenham are now involved in “very concrete” discussions regarding Gakpo and have also made contact with Liverpool to explore the possibility of a transfer.
The wording is significant because it suggests this is no longer simply a case of Tottenham monitoring the player’s situation. Spurs appear to have taken another step by opening discussions over what could potentially become one of the more ambitious deals of their summer window.
There is, however, an important note of caution. People close to Gakpo have reportedly denied that an agreement has been reached, either regarding personal terms or a transfer between the two clubs.
For now, Tottenham therefore appear to be exploring the possibility rather than closing in on a completed deal.
Even so, the interest makes sense from De Zerbi’s perspective. The Spurs boss is attempting to build an attack capable of competing much higher up the Premier League table after last season’s disappointment, and Gakpo’s combination of experience, versatility and goal threat fits that vision.
Tottenham have already demonstrated that they are willing to spend aggressively to transform the squad. If De Zerbi gets his way, the club’s attacking overhaul may not be finished yet—and Cody Gakpo could become one of the biggest pieces still missing from his new-look Tottenham side.
For Liverpool, though, the decision is likely to be far more complicated. Gakpo remains an established international and Premier League forward with several years left on his contract, meaning Spurs may need a significant offer to even tempt the Reds into serious negotiations.
The coming weeks should reveal whether Tottenham’s interest develops into a formal bid or whether Gakpo ultimately remains at Anfield. For now, however, the message from North London is clear: De Zerbi wants more firepower, and Tottenham appear prepared to keep searching until they find it.
