Man City's £80m move for Gakpo close to collapse

Manchester City’s reported £80 million bid for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo is on the verge of collapsing. The club had opened talks with the Reds, who indicated they would sanction the sale only if a suitable replacement could be secured. Liverpool subsequently completed the acquisition of French forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint‑Germain for a fee potentially reaching £123 million on Monday, yet they would still require an additional attacking option should Gakpo depart. The Anfield nine had also pursued Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr, but valuation disagreements have hampered those pursuits. Liverpool are now expected to retain the 27‑year‑old Netherlands international unless they can revive a deal for a new winger before the Tuesday deadline. Meanwhile, City have maintained interest in Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye and could pivot to the 26‑year‑old Senegalese winger should the Gakpo talks collapse. Ndiaye, who had been linked with a move to Tottenham, remains a target for the Etihad nine as it looks to advance a possible transfer.