Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi sent fans into a frenzy in the week when he revealed that a "bomba" was imminent. To the uninitiated, a ‘bomba’ is a phrase fans use online when a big transfer is close to completion.
Naturally, Spurs fans were left wondering who the mystery signing would be. Considering the north London side need to sign attacking players, supporters were speculating the identity of the forward. Omar Marmoush was one player mooted. Marcus Rashford was another.
De Zerbi ultimately backtracked on his comments. “Bomba in Italian is different to English,” he’d later state. Even so, Spurs remain in the market for attackers. Having prioritised the defence and midfielder, the 2025 Europa League winners have to add bodies in the final third.
And if reports over the weekend are to be believed, then Spurs are in the market for Liverpool’s Dutch forward Cody Gakpo. To some, links with the Netherlands international are hardly the most inspiring. Indeed, Gakpo struggled for consistency in an, admittedly inconsistent, Liverpool side.
Why does De Zerbi want Gakpo?
However, there is a method to the madness.
As is known, De Zerbi is a manager who doesn’t want his leading striker to be a pure number nine. Essentially, he wants forwards who drop deeper and essentially act as a nine-and-a-half to knit the play together in attack. It explains why Spurs were so keen on Eli Junior Kroupi prior to the foot injury he sustained in pre-season.
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While Gakpo himself may prefer to start from the left and cut inside onto his right, the Netherlands international can play as the leading striker. It’s his versatility across the frontline that means he is an intriguing option for Spurs.
The capital outfit are expected to formalise their interest in Manchester City’s Brazilian winger Savinho before long. With Mohammed Kudus operating down the right, it’s clear that De Zerbi wants to utilise pace down the flanks.
The aim will be to get the speedsters down the wings and pop the ball into the box. Gakpo, at 6ft4in, is a physical forward outlet. Granted, Gakpo doesn’t have the best return when it comes to headed goals. He’s scored just five headers since moving to the Premier League in January 2023.
However, he’d give opposition defences something to think about. He’d naturally drag markers out of position. In addition, his goal record as the lead forward isn’t to be scoffed at. 23 goals in 60 competitive starts for club and country isn’t the worst. It’s also a role in which his lack of pace wouldn’t be exposed, as it is when he starts from the left.
Give him teammates who are willing to provide the chances, and he could thrive in De Zerbi’s 4-2-3-1 setup.
Fee could hold up a potential deal
The issue, though, will be a potential fee for Gakpo. It has been suggested that Spurs will need to fork out upwards of £60m to bring Liverpool to the table. Considering Spurs have already spent at least £200m this summer already, it would be a steep investment for a player who was only involved in 12 league goals last season, scoring seven.
What’s more, Spurs would be directly bankrolling a rival in their own bid to strengthen. It’s no secret that Liverpool are keen on Bradley Barcola as a potential replacement for Gakpo.
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Paris Saint-Germain are demanding a hefty fee for the France international, and the Reds need to shift a body or two in order to finance a move for the former Lyon man.
However, as has been the case for Spurs this summer, the club are making moves for players that De Zerbi wants. The Italian was handed a five-year deal when he took over the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium helm earlier this year. Having guided the club to safety, he deserves to be backed in the market.
And if Gakpo is the one he wants to lead the line, then the former PSV man is likely to complete a switch to London before long.
Granted, the 27-year-old may not have ranked high on wishlists when the summer transfer window opened. Gakpo isn’t perhaps the most eye catching name on the club’s attacking radar. However, he works hard and is a natural finisher when utilised properly.
As a Premier League experienced option to operate between the usual space occupied by a striker and the number 10, there are few better, nor, crucially, attainable, than Gakpo. With a point to prove, too, he could be a good fit as Spurs’ leading man in the coming campaign.
