Man City's £80m Gakpo deal on the verge of collapsing

Manchester City's attempt to sign Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo is closer to collapse than completion. The deal, worth around £80m, had progressed in recent days with talks opened between the two clubs, but the lack of a guaranteed replacement at Anfield has put the brakes on the Netherlands international's exit.

• The £80m agreement between City and Liverpool for Cody Gakpo is now close to breaking down.
• Liverpool would only sanction the Dutchman's sale if they could bring in a replacement in attack.
• The arrival of Bradley Barcola from PSG is not enough: the Reds want another winger.
• Talks for Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr have stalled over their valuations.
• Manchester City are weighing up a move for Everton's Iliman Ndiaye before the deadline.

Why Liverpool are putting the brakes on Gakpo's sale

Liverpool's position was clear from the start: Gakpo could leave only if the club found a reliable attacking replacement first. On Monday, the Reds completed the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth up to £123m. Yet that move does not fully solve the picture, as Anfield's recruitment team want to add one more piece further forward.

Gakpo, 27, has scored 51 goals for Liverpool since arriving from PSV in 2023. His output has been impressive, and losing him without a clear safety net would be a major risk for the decisive stretch of the season. That is why the City deal has cooled as Liverpool's alternatives became harder to close.

Barcola signs for Liverpool, but the Reds still want another winger

Barcola's arrival, a French winger with huge potential, strengthened Liverpool's attacking options but did not answer all the questions. The club had identified Brighton's Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr as possible further additions. Both cases present financial hurdles: the figures demanded by their clubs have not matched Liverpool's plans, and discussions have not moved forward.

That market blockage has a direct consequence: without a new winger confirmed, Gakpo stays. The Dutchman is set to remain at Liverpool unless a realistic opportunity emerges in the final hours to revive a wide attacking deal. Time is running out, with the transfer window about to close.

Manchester City's plan B: Iliman Ndiaye

While the Gakpo talks cool down, City are not standing still. Pep Guardiola's side have kept Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye on their shortlist as an option to strengthen the wide areas. Ndiaye, 26, had also been on Tottenham's radar, but City's sustained interest could now win the race.

The Senegal international offers a different profile to Gakpo, but he fits City's need for more threat on the flanks. The coming hours will be decisive in determining whether the Etihad club formally activates that route or decides to keep their current squad as the window shuts.

What's at stake for Liverpool and Manchester City in this window

For Liverpool, keeping Gakpo means keeping attacking depth in a season packed with fixtures. The Dutchman has shown he can play out wide and through the middle, and his continuity would give a boost to an attack that already welcomes Barcola as the headline signing. Losing him without a replacement would be an unnecessary setback.

For City, Gakpo represented a market opportunity to raise the level of their forward line. With the Premier League and Champions League still to play for, every addition matters, and the club will want to end the window with at least one major signing. If Ndiaye does not progress, other late options at the Etihad cannot be ruled out before Tuesday.

Gakpo's numbers at Liverpool

Since joining Liverpool in 2023, Cody Gakpo has played a leading role in the Reds' system. His 51 goals across all competitions make him one of the team's most productive forwards, combining scoring with assists and defensive work off the ball. That consistency explains why City were prepared to invest £80m in him.

The Dutchman came through at PSV Eindhoven, where he broke through as one of Europe's most exciting talents before making the jump to the Premier League. His adaptation was quick, and his name has been linked with big moves in every window since. Now 27, he heads into the final stretch of the season still capable of being a key piece for Liverpool.