Cody Gakpo Staying at Liverpool – One of the Best Summer Decisions

About a month ago, Cody Gakpo found himself at a crossroads.

After interest from Tottenham Hotspur throughout the summer and a late approach from Manchester City, a departure from Liverpool appeared entirely possible. The arrival of Bradley Barcola for a huge fee raised further questions about Gakpo’s future, while Liverpool’s pursuit of additional attacking options suggested the club were at least open to change.

Looking back now, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that staying at Anfield was the right outcome for everyone involved. Well, almost everyone.

Not just for Liverpool, not just for Gakpo – for both.

Gakpo Has Become Central to Iraola’s Plans

One of the strongest arguments against a move was always the football itself.

Under Andoni Iraola, Gakpo has not been treated like a squad player or an expendable asset. Quite the opposite. He has become one of the key figures in Liverpool’s attacking structure.

His versatility is invaluable. He can start on either flank, operate centrally when required and seamlessly switch positions during matches. That flexibility perfectly suits Iraola’s preference for fluid attacking football.

More importantly, the numbers are already backing up his influence. Goals and assists (six combined in six matches) have arrived consistently in the opening weeks of the season, while his developing understanding with Alexander Isak has become one of Liverpool’s most dangerous attacking weapons.

An unbeaten start to the campaign has been built on contributions from many players, but Gakpo’s fingerprints have been everywhere.

Manchester City Was Never a Guaranteed Upgrade

Football supporters often assume moving to Manchester City automatically represents a step forward. That is not always true.

City remain an elite club, but from Gakpo’s perspective there were legitimate concerns.

Regular football mattered. At Liverpool, he knew he would play. At City, the situation was far less certain.

Even before considering tactical preferences, there was already significant competition for wide positions. Gakpo would have been joining another crowded attacking department and fighting for minutes every week.

Players entering their peak years rarely benefit from becoming rotational options. At Liverpool, especially on current form, he remains a central figure.

Liverpool Needed Him More Than They Realised

The late-window rethink by Liverpool increasingly looks like a wise piece of management.

At one stage, selling Gakpo for a substantial fee may have seemed logical. After all, Barcola had arrived. Additional attacking targets were being explored. The squad appeared to have alternatives.

Yet the opening weeks of the campaign have underlined something important. Replacing Gakpo would have been far more difficult than many assumed. His ability to create, score, press, link play and operate across multiple positions gives Liverpool solutions that very few forwards can offer.

Those qualities become even more valuable during a long season that includes domestic and European commitments.

Perspective Changes Everything

There is another reason why Gakpo’s start feels particularly impressive.

The football story exists alongside a deeply personal one. After suffering the devastating loss of his unborn son during the summer, he entered the new season carrying a burden that extends far beyond football. His response has been remarkable.

Rather than allowing uncertainty over his future and personal heartbreak to derail him, he has channelled his energy into performances of maturity, professionalism and consistency. That resilience is now being rewarded.

The criticism he received during parts of last season increasingly appears excessive when viewed alongside the contribution he continues to make.

The Manchester City Verdict Makes the Decision Look Even Better

Recent developments have only reinforced the wisdom of staying put.

The verdict finding Manchester City guilty of 114 financial rule breaches has plunged the club into a period of uncertainty, with appeals expected and sanctions still to be determined.

Nobody yet knows what the ultimate consequences will be. But uncertainty is now unavoidable. Questions about future punishments, competitive consequences and the club’s long-term position will dominate discussions around City for months, possibly years. By remaining at Liverpool, Gakpo avoided becoming part of that storm.

Instead, he is thriving within a relatively stable environment under a manager who clearly values his quality.

Liverpool’s Season Hopes May Depend on Him

When supporters discuss attacking threats, the biggest names naturally dominate the conversation. Yet title challenges are rarely built solely around superstars. They are built around players who deliver consistently across nine months.

Gakpo is becoming one of those players.

His combination of creativity, intelligence and adaptability gives Liverpool a balance that few opponents can match. The chemistry he is building with teammates is becoming stronger with every passing week, and his understanding of Iraola’s demands is growing.

The version of Gakpo seen so far this season looks like a footballer who knows exactly where he belongs.

The Verdict

At the end of August, a move to Manchester City may have seemed tempting. A new challenge. A new environment. A chance to test himself elsewhere.

Less than two months later, that transfer is already beginning to look like a move that would have benefited nobody. Liverpool would have lost one of their most important attacking players – to a direct rival. Gakpo would have exchanged a starring role for uncertainty.

Instead, he stayed. Liverpool remain unbeaten. His form is flourishing.

And as the season gathers momentum, it is becoming increasingly obvious that one of the most important pieces of Liverpool’s business was not signing somebody new.

It was keeping Cody Gakpo exactly where he was.

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