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Cody Gakpo to Manchester City

This move fell through. Last report: Sky Sports News, 31 August 2026.

Manchester City's move for Cody Gakpo has fallen apart. Liverpool have knocked back three separate bids, most recently an €88m offer, and both Sky Sports News and BBC Sport now describe the deal as close to collapse or already dead. David Ornstein has gone further, declaring the pursuit over and confirmed as such between all parties, with City's focus shifting to Enzo Fernandez instead. Liverpool's stance, according to Fabrizio Romano, is that they will keep Gakpo unless a replacement such as Ismaila Sarr arrives, even though personal terms with City were reportedly agreed on the previous Saturday. The sourcing here is about as strong as it gets. Ornstein and BBC Sport sit among the most trusted names in the business, and Sky Sports News corroborates the same collapse independently. Craig Hope and Ben Jacobs add further weight, with Jacobs drawing a direct parallel to how Liverpool blocked Andy Robertson's move to Spurs in January. This is not thin, single-source gossip; it is a story confirmed across multiple heavyweight outlets. Given all that, this now sits as a long shot rather than a live deal. For it to be revived, Liverpool would need to sort a replacement quickly, most likely Sarr, and City would need to return with an improved bid despite three rejections already. Nothing in the reporting suggests either side is actively working towards that outcome right now. Liverpool have sold to City before, notably in a deal worth €64m, and have also cashed in big on forwards sold to Barcelona for €82m and Bayern Munich for €70m. Gakpo himself arrived from PSV for €42m in 2023

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