Cody Gakpo opens up on tragic summer and collapsed Man City transfer
Cody GakpoCody Gakpo has spoken candidly about a deeply painful summer that saw him deal with the tragic loss of his unborn child alongside the collapse of an £85million move to Manchester City.
The Liverpool forward was subject to intense transfer speculation before the Anfield club blocked his departure late in the window.
Speaking to The Times, Gakpo confirmed that Liverpool had initially been open to letting him leave before changing their stance.
When asked if the club had reversed their decision to let him go, Gakpo said:
“Spot-on. I cannot choose. So then I have to just try to do what I’m good at, and that’s playing football.”
The Netherlands international was a major target for Premier League rivals Manchester City, who were prepared to pay £85m for his services, while Tottenham Hotspur had also maintained a long-term interest.
However, as the September 1 transfer deadline approached, Anfield chiefs decided they could not afford to lose the versatile attacker.
Dealing with an unimaginable family tragedy
The footballing drama was secondary to a devastating personal loss for Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, whose second son passed away during pregnancy in June.
The tragedy occurred while Gakpo was away representing his nation at the World Cup in America.
Reflecting on the emotional toll of those months, Gakpo explained how he had to navigate both personal grief and professional uncertainty.
Speaking to The Times about the painful period, Gakpo said:
“It was a difficult summer for me and my family, and everything surrounding football and life.”
Rather than letting the twin setbacks of personal grief and a blocked transfer affect his performances, the 27-year-old has returned to action in sensational form.
Instead of letting his head drop after the Manchester City deal collapsed, the forward has made an immediate impact on the pitch.
He found the net during Liverpool’s season opener at Newcastle and followed it up with a goal in the Carabao Cup victory against Tottenham.
Shrugging off Anfield criticism under Iraola
The Dutchman has enjoyed an outstanding start to life under Liverpool’s new manager Andoni Iraola.
In his first six games of the season, he has already found the net twice and set up four more goals for his teammates.
This run of form is a far cry from his struggles last term.
During that campaign, Gakpo was subjected to online abuse and jeers from the Anfield crowd as the team faltered under Arne Slot.
The forward admits that the criticism he received during that difficult period was not entirely unwarranted given the standards expected at Anfield.
Discussing the fan backlash with The Times, Gakpo said:
“I don’t want to speak about somebody else or other players but, me, I know I could do much better than I did last year.”
His impressive form has translated to the international stage, where he recently struck a dramatic late equaliser against a Germany side led by Jürgen Klopp, his former boss at Anfield.
The Anfield faithful have shown their appreciation too, serenading the forward with a chant from the Kop during his recent goalscoring display against Spurs.
Van Dijk demands respect for his teammate
Gakpo’s impressive performances have earned him plenty of praise, not least from his club and international captain Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk was vocal in his support for his compatriot, making it clear that allowing the forward to leave Anfield during the summer transfer window was never a viable option.
Speaking after the draw against Germany, Van Dijk said:
“But I think it was a no-brainer for us as a team and a club to keep him.”
With his future settled and his focus firmly back on the pitch, Gakpo is determined to keep enjoying his football under Iraola’s guidance.
Liverpool’s decision to retain the forward already looks like a masterstroke as they look to challenge on multiple fronts this season.
