A Wanted Man, a Risky Match: Would Gakpo Thrive at Spurs?

Cody Gakpo arrives in every rumour mill as the kind of signing that promises goals and invention — and Tottenham are being linked almost as often as Liverpool. There is appetite at Spurs for pace and penetrative running from wide areas, and Gakpo delivers those qualities in abundance. But transfer romance meets tactical reality faster than most fans expect.

At Liverpool Gakpo was used as a multi-positional forward: a right-footed winger on the left, a second striker and an inside forward who times his runs into the box. He offers clean finishing, a clever first touch and an ability to find pockets between full-back and centre-back, plus an eye for late-arriving goals. Defensively he is industrious but not a ballast; his pressing can be intelligent, but he is not built to be a second full-back.

Tottenham’s setup rewards wide runners who provide both creative overload and defensive cover, and there is genuine room in the squad for a forward who can score from midfield channels. The problem is minutes and roles: Spurs already rely on established wide attackers who demand the ball differently, and Gakpo’s best output comes when systems give him freedom to cut inside and arrive late — a luxury Conte-styled or rigid defensive systems may not always provide. Costs, squad balance and who sacrifices minutes matter as much as the player’s profile.

The Guru’s verdict: bring him in only as a tactical investment, not a headline grab. If Spurs can tweak their shape to grant Gakpo the freedom to attack pockets and provide midfield cover around him, he elevates the team; if he’s squeezed into a constrained wide role, the signing will feel expensive and underused. My recommendation is a targeted pursuit with conditional guarantees on how he will be used — otherwise keep your wallet closed and look for a different profile.