Liverpool make final Cody Gakpo decision after submitting fresh bid for Premier League star

The future of Cody Gakpo has been subject to much speculation this summer as the Dutch forward has been strongly linked with an exit, and it appears Liverpool have now made their final decision.

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have been heavily linked with the Dutch international across the final couple of weeks of the transfer window.

While Spurs appeared to be in pole position, the last few days have seen Man City occupy this role as they aimed to sign the attacker after they bid farewell to two forward options.

Savio and Omar Marmoush departed the Etihad to join Spurs, leaving City light in attack, with Gakpo believed to be the solution.

However, according to David Ornstein, after negotiations with their Premier League rivals Liverpool have opted to reject an offer worth £80 million to keep Gakpo at Anfield.

Gakpo’s good start to the campaign may have been a decisive factor in the Reds and Andoni Iraola opting to keep the 27-year-old at the club.

The Dutch international scored against Newcastle United in Liverpool’s season opener before getting an assist in the next fixture against Nottingham Forest.

This decision to keep Gakpo may have thrown a spanner in the works for a deal that Liverpool are currently working on, as they aim to strengthen their squad with some Premier League talent.

Liverpool submit fresh bid for Ismalia Sarr

Liverpool are still keen to add players to their squad before the transfer window closes, and now they are aiming to acquire a Premier League star to strengthen their attacking options.

The Reds made a double signing, Lucca Brughmans and Djylian N'Guessan, just hours before announcing that Liverpool had finally signed Bradley Barcola after a lengthy pursuit this summer.

Barcola’s acquisition, though, has seemingly thrown a spanner in the works for the club in their pursuit of signing players who are not considered homegrown.

Following the signing of the French international, the Reds have filled up the 17 permitted slots in their 25-man squad for the 2026/27 season that can be non-homegrown.

The Premier League considers a homegrown player is who was registered with an English or Welsh club for at least three complete seasons before turning 21, with where the player was developed, not their nationality, being the key detail, alongside the fact that eligible Under-21 players sit outside this limit.

Yet, this has not stopped Liverpool from submitting a bid for Crystal Palace winger Ismalia Sarr, according to RMC Sport.

The French outlet are reporting that the Senegalese right winger was the subject of a second bid, with the Eagles believed to have rejected the offer.

Sarr impressed last season at Palace as he netted on 21 occasions and assisted twice across his 45 appearances, and he appears to be hopeful of a move to Anfield.

Due to the current Premier League rules, Liverpool would not be allowed to register him in their squad; however, this could signal that a non-homegrown player may be close to leaving the club, with the likely individual being Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The Georgian is expected to depart the club, with Nottingham Forest being the interested party, which is why the Reds bought the youthful Brughmans from Genk.