Liverpool have firmly declined an £80 million proposal from Manchester City for their Dutch winger Cody Gakpo, prompting the champions to shift their focus toward Everton’s promising forward Iliman Ndiaye. According to sources at Sky Sports News, Liverpool’s hesitation stems from doubts about finding an adequate replacement for Gakpo in the current transfer window. The club has made it clear that they are not prepared to let the 24‑year‑old leave before the summer window closes, a decision that has forced City to revisit their alternative targets. The rejection has set off a rapid chain of negotiations.
After City’s bid for Gakpo was turned down, they quickly turned their attention back to Iliman Ndiaye, a versatile attacker who has impressed with Everton this season. Tottenham Hotspur have already agreed on a £60 million fee with Everton for Ndiaye, and they have opened direct lines of communication with Manchester City regarding a potential swap that could involve Jack Grealish. Everton, meanwhile, appear to be leaning toward sending Grealish to Manchester City, although the midfielder also has interest from Sunderland, adding another layer of complexity to the deal. Manchester City’s broader strategy this summer is to secure both a wide‑forward and a central midfielder before the deadline.
In addition to Ndiaye, they have identified Enzo Fernández – the Argentine playmaker who has been a key figure for their midfield – as a priority signing. The club’s recent activity includes allowing the departures of Savio and Omar Marmoush to Tottenham earlier in the month, which has narrowed Enzo Maresca’s options on the flanks and underscored City’s intent to reshape their attacking options.
The news comes amid a flurry of other transfer moves across the Premier League. Liverpool, for their part, have been active on the market, securing the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint‑Germain on Monday.
Barcola, a quick and technically gifted winger, is expected to add depth to Liverpool’s wide positions. Additionally, the club completed the signing of Victor Muñoz from Osasuna earlier in the summer, further bolstering their squad depth.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have also shown interest in Gakpo during this window, but after failing to secure his signature, they opted to bring in Savio and Marmoush to strengthen their attacking line‑up. The Spurs’ pursuit of Gakpo highlights the high demand for dynamic, goal‑scoring wingers in the league, especially those capable of contributing both on the wing and centrally. In City’s recent match against Crystal Palace, the team did not name a traditional winger on the bench, instead deploying Phil Foden – a player Enzo Maresca has described as not being a natural winger – out wide at Selhurst Park.
This tactical choice underscores City’s current dilemma in finding the right wide‑man to complement their fluid attacking system, further justifying their interest in players like Ndiaye and Gakpo. The transfer saga also features a number of ancillary storylines. The Premier League’s Transfer Centre LIVE app continues to provide real‑time updates, and fans can stream matches without a contract through the Sky Sports app, reflecting the modern, digital‑first approach to following the sport.
Additionally, promotional activities such as the Super 6 competition, offering a chance to win £1 million, keep fans engaged during the busy transfer period. Overall, Liverpool’s decision to keep Gakpo signals their ambition to retain a key attacking asset, while Manchester City’s pivot to alternative targets illustrates the fluid nature of the market. With the window drawing to a close, both clubs are likely to finalize deals that align with their strategic objectives, whether that means Liverpool securing additional reinforcements like Barcola and Muñoz, or City completing the acquisitions of Ndiaye and Fernández to maintain their competitive edge in the title race. The coming days will reveal how these negotiations settle and which players ultimately don the red or sky‑blue shirts for the next season.