Liverpool's hierarchy faced a tsunami of criticism after they rejected a lucrative offer from Manchester City for Cody Gakpo. The deal, which included £75 million upfront and a further £5 million in bonuses, was seen as a golden opportunity that could have set a precedent in the transfer market.
Gakpo had been keen on making the switch to Manchester following Liverpool’s headline-grabbing signing of French winger Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for a figure that could soar to £123 million. Previously, Gakpo had spurned interest from Tottenham, further indicating his desire for a fresh start.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Gakpo has started in both of Liverpool's opening matches, both ending in 2-2 draws. He found the net against Newcastle and provided an assist in the match against Nottingham Forest. Captain Virgil van Dijk even publicly urged the club to keep the Dutchman in their ranks.
However, a significant number of Liverpool fans seem unconvinced by their captain's optimism, expressing their dismay at the thwarted sale.
Fan reactions: criticising tactics, pricing, and the management
Supporters have highlighted Gakpo's apparent eagerness to leave, especially since his preferred position on the left flank is now occupied by the pricier Barcola. They fear that an £80 million offer for a rotational player may never arise again.
- Lost opportunity: One fan, using the name Junior, admitted that he hadn’t considered wanting to part ways with Gakpo until last season’s events turned the stands against him. Another supporter, KOSH, pointed out that while selling to a direct rival felt dubious at first, the compensation amount and the club's pressing need for a right winger change the game: “£80 million for Gakpo is a crazy price. They should have taken the money without a second thought.”
- The three stages of fandom: A fan called Broken__Monkey articulated the saga in three acts: first, demanding to offload the player, then rejecting the sale, and ultimately lamenting the lost record fee.
- Tactical mismatch: Analyzing Gakpo’s playstyle, fans noted that he tends to drift in from the wing onto his stronger right foot, while manager Andoni Iraola seems to favour explosive runners who attack the depth—exactly the profile Barcola fits.
- Struggling attack: Another fan, Gamerdad, reminded everyone of the dip in standards in the attacking line. With Hugo Ekitike sidelined through injury until the New Year, doubts linger about Alexander Isak's form, Florian Wirtz has yet to prove his consistency, and Gakpo was already considered expendable by the hierarchy.
- Discontent with Arteta and Iraola: User Carrillo Fuentes expressed outrage that the club turned down nearly £85 million for a player who has faced consistent criticism from his own fans, while Robert M chastised Iraola for continually selecting a player who openly wanted to leave.
