Tottenham's Transfer Dilemma: Gakpo Stalled, Savinho in Focus

Tottenham’s pursuit of Cody Gakpo has hit a serious snag, just as their chase for Manchester City winger Savinho gathers pace.

For weeks, Spurs have been circling Gakpo. The move was seen as a key piece in a wider transfer chain: Liverpool cashing in on the Dutchman to help finance ambitious moves for Paris Saint-Germain pair Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, a double swoop expected to cost around £155million.

TEAMtalk reported on Saturday that Tottenham had already reached agreement on personal terms with Gakpo. The 25-year-old was said to have informed Liverpool of his desire to leave, with Spurs preparing an opening £60m bid.

Now that plan is in doubt.

Liverpool stance halts Gakpo momentum

talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has poured cold water on the idea of Gakpo swapping Anfield for north London before the deadline.

“I don’t think it will happen,” Crook said, via Last Word on Spurs. “Speaking to sources at Liverpool they think he’s had a good pre-season under Iraola, they think he’s a player that Iraola can get the best out of.

“I think he probably would be open to the move, but at the moment that’s not one I expect to happen between now and deadline day.”

Those comments cut directly against a recent CaughtOffside claim that exits for both Gakpo and Curtis Jones were “getting closer”. Instead, Liverpool’s internal view appears to have shifted firmly towards keeping Gakpo and giving him a prominent role under new boss Andoni Iraola.

For Roberto De Zerbi, who wants Gakpo as part of his attacking rebuild, that represents a major blow. The Italian has been pushing for both Gakpo and Savinho. He may now have to settle for just one marquee winger.

Savinho talks crank up – but at a price

If Gakpo is drifting out of reach, Savinho remains very much on the table.

According to The Times, Tottenham are still locked in negotiations with Manchester City over the Brazilian, having failed to land him last summer. City are prepared to sell despite handing the 22-year-old a new contract in October, a stance that has encouraged Spurs to go back in.

The numbers, though, are climbing fast.

Reports in July from the Daily Mail suggested Tottenham were on the verge of finalising a £65m deal to finally bring Savinho in at the second attempt. The Times now say City are holding out for a far bigger sum: £85m.

That gap is significant. For Spurs to get this done, they will have to substantially raise their offer.

The north London club have already shown they are willing to push the financial boundaries. Record-breaking deals for Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have underlined their intent to operate at the top end of the market. An £85m outlay on Savinho would fit that new, aggressive profile, even if the fee feels inflated.

Crucially, personal terms are not an issue. Spurs have already reached agreement with Savinho, clearing one of the biggest hurdles in any major transfer.

Now the question is simple: with Gakpo increasingly likely to stay at Liverpool, do Tottenham pay City’s full price to make Savinho the next statement of their new era?