Valentijn Driessen confirms concrete interest in Cody Gakpo

Former PSV player Cody Gakpo is set to face an interesting period. The Liverpool player is preparing with the Netherlands for the 2026 World Cup in North America. In addition, his future at Liverpool is anything but certain.

Possibly Gakpo will leave for Xavi Simons' club. Last week, Gakpo still had to be told the news that Arne Slot was sacked as coach of Liverpool FC. Gakpo is himself being linked with a move to the London Spurs.

Slot was ultimately dismissed by Liverpool after a disappointing season without trophies and a fifth place finish in the final standings of the Premier League. Gakpo didn’t see it coming, but knows how it works in football.

"Of course it is a shame that the coach has been sacked, especially after a season in which we fought to qualify for the Champions League. The club also issued a statement with the explanation in it," the former PSV player tells about Slot and his dismissal. "Ultimately, I think none of the players saw it coming, but it did happen. Besides that, I think many players from the club are now working toward the World Cup, so we have to put it aside as well, quickly. No matter how difficult it may be," the attacker continues.

Gakpo is appreciative of Slot. ''With some players, I already have contact anyway; I also do things with them outside the field. I’ve also sent Slot a message to thank him for the past two years. Of course, with the previous season as the highlight, so there are some nice memories,'' concludes Gakpo.

Last season, Slot guided Liverpool to the league title with Gakpo. This season, however, it became a season without trophies, and Gakpo was also not always a first-team regular under Slot and previously under Klopp. This summer, a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur is tempting, having been linked with the former PSV player on several occasions over the past week. Valentijn Driessen confirmed on Saturday that Gakpo is in Tottenham Hotspur’s clear sights.  

Driessen thinks that Gakpo could win himself a permanent starting spot in London, something he failed to do in Liverpool. PSV watcher Jeroen Kapteijns still kept some caution and said that the interest is not yet very concrete from London. Liverpool bought Cody Gakpo in the winter transfer window of the 2022-2023 season for 44 million euros from PSV.