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Cody Gakpo is one of Tottenham’s top transfer targets in a summer transfer window that has seen the Lily Whites act with far more ambition than we’ve potentially ever seen. The Netherlands international is potentially facing a return to being a squad player for Liverpool amid widespread reports of Liverpool’s plan to bring PSG star Bradley Barcola to Anfield. In a members-only exclusive on their YouTube channel, Empire of the Kop sat down with Dutch football journalist Joost Blaauwhof, who says that there is a lot more to Cody Gakpo’s desire to play for Spurs than just more game time. Everything Blaauwhof said about Gakpo to Spurs London appeals to Gakpo Apparently, one of the reasons why Gakpo finds the idea of playing for Spurs appealing is that they are based in London, which makes for an easier return to the Netherlands. Blaauwhof said: “What I think is that they [Spurs] made a project with Cody [Gakpo] that’s he’s going to be the first striker up there and that combined with a big contract, a longer contract from London. Where it is very easy to get a 1 hour flight, you’re back home flying to Eindhoven where he’s supposed to live. “I think that’s made him think about the step, where maybe at the club where they like him a little bit more. I think Liverpool, I don’t think the case is that the real Liverpool fans don’t like him. But they maybe expect more from a winger. “I think he’s open for the move, because otherwise they would’ve already made a statement or something. Or they are told that we’re not going to do this transfer because I want to stay at Anfield. So the things what I heard around the players or around Tottenham Hotspur as-well is that he’s open for the move. But in terms of, I mean Liverpool is possibly one of the biggest clubs – no not possibly – it is one of the biggest clubs in the world.” Gakpo is not desperate to leave, and won’t force a move if it stalls One of the reasons I have always been a fan of Gakpo is his attitude. He received an astonishing amount of hate and abuse online from some fans last season, but he never acted out when it would have perhaps been reasonable to. Blaauwhof commented on this on social media before his chat with EOTK even came out today. Cody Gakpo is dus zeker geen speler die gaat muiten, wanneer er transferperikelen zijn. Hij scoort en geeft een assist voor Liverpool tegen Como. Voorbeeldprof. Dat kan nog wel een bonusje schelen straks voor Tottenham Hotspur, dat Oranje-aanvaller graag snel aan boord heeft.?? pic.twitter.com/0ctRyhUZOZ — Joost Blaauwhof (@joost_blaauwhof) August 16, 2026 Blaauwhof told EOTK: “So he’s not desperate to leave, but when they come over [Spurs] and make him a star player and all things are already set up, I think it could be a very quick transfer. Because, Spurs already announced Liverpool that they’re gonna come with a bid when Barcola is potentially coming in or another striker is coming in. They already know what they’re demanding, so I think when they’re coming about in pounds 70, about that 60 or 70 million pounds that maybe Liverpools open for the move, especially because two years on the contract or three but they [possibly] already brought in Barcola by then.” Barcole to Liverpool remains the main factor in Gakpo’s desire to leave Gakpo started most of Liverpool’s games last season and whether or not you agree he should be a starter for the Reds, he became accustomed to it and players are rarely able to accept going back to a squad player. With Barcola arriving from PSG for what would be another Premier League record level fee, Gakpo will know this means he will be on the bench more often. Blaauwhof said: “Barcola is not coming for the bench, he’s coming to play on the left-wing, everyone knows that. He’s a player from PSG, the French national team, very important and very stable performances. So, I think it’s not going to be a very difficult transfers. But, it depends on Liverpool as well. When they’re not getting in, when they think we’re not getting in enough replacements, why should they sell Cody Gakpo? “A good personality, a good player, he’s making goals and assists, he’s also a link-up player, so he can make a striker better. But I don’t think the recent strikers at Liverpool suits him very well, like Isak and Ekitike.”