Cody Gakpo’s Liverpool exit blocked by ex-Anfield teammate in bombshell admission
Liverpool sanctioned the sale of several players this summer, and winger Cody Gakpo may well have joined them.
Harvey Elliott joined Aston Villa from Liverpool on loan, with the deal containing a future obligation to buy.
The midfielder had been hoping for a move away for much of the summer, after struggling for minutes in Arne Slot’s side last season.
Liverpool sold Darwin Nunez to Al Hilal in a deal worth around £64million, with the striker not present in the Dutchman’s plans.
Instead, two new forwards arrived, with a summer-long saga resulting in Liverpool signing Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a Premier League-record fee.
Bayern Munich tried to sign Cody Gakpo before Luis Diaz
Bayern Munich signed Luis Diaz from Liverpool in the summer, with the winger keen for a move away from Anfield.
The 28-year-old was crucial for Slot’s side last season, scoring 17 goals and providing eight across all competitions.
But after contract talks broke down, Diaz made his intentions clear and Liverpool, after receiving an appropriate bid, obliged.
| Luis Diaz | Across all competitions (2025/26) |
| Appearances | 4 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 2 |
It could have been Gakpo who departed, however, the Dutchman revealed on Saturday 6 September.
“From what I understand, they [Bayern] did come,” the 26-year-old told ESPN.
“But they ended up buying Luis Diaz. It’s difficult because so much is happening. Other clubs are approaching you, but you might want to stay with your own club.”
Gakpo ultimately decided to sign a new contract at Liverpool, a decision he is pleased about.
The winger said: “”It’s nice. I’ve experienced things differently myself, of course.
“A transfer window like that can be hectic and stressful for a player and everyone around them. I don’t have that problem anymore.”
Read more: Cody Gakpo’s five best moments in a Liverpool shirt as new contract confirmed
Cody Gakpo will be better than Luis Diaz this season
Gakpo is a more direct winger than Diaz, and the right option for Slot’s new-look side.
The arrivals of tall strikers Hugo Ekitike and Isak have emphasised the importance of accurate crosses in the Liverpool team, and the Dutchman outperformed Diaz massively in that respect last season.
The Reds will also need a player capable of taking attention away from their big strikers, and Gakpo does exactly that, constantly picking up the ball and driving at his man.
A goal threat too, the 26-year-old matched Diaz for output, scoring one more goal across all competitions.
Crucially, Gakpo, unlike Diaz, is not the finished product. Two years the now-Bayern man’s junior, the Netherlands international still has room to progress.
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