Liverpool left winger Cody Gakpo is getting a lot of attention as a potential summer 2026 transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur, who need two or three new attacking players for Roberto De Zerbi in order to make the sort of serious upgrades necessary to go from back to back 17th placed finishes in the Premier League to a top five and a Champions League return.
Manchester City star Savinho is a traditional explosive winger who has been linked to the Lilywhites for a year now, but, in addition to him, Fabrizio Romano has pretty consistently maintained that Spurs are interested in Gakpo as a more inverted wing option.
Spurs insider Paul O Keefe has similarly been telling fans that Gakpo is high on the club's and De Zerbi's list, and he recently tweeted that the manager actually sees Gakpo as an option at the 9.
Now, Tottenham definitely need a new No. 9 and goals from that position, but Gakpo isn't a traditional striker. He can play there, but only if the right personnel are there. If everyone is fully healthy, here is the best possible Tottenham XI with Gakpo in the middle.
GK Antonin Kinsky
LB Destiny Udogie
CB Micky van de Ven
CB Jan Paul van Hecke
RB Pedro Porro
There is no need to belabor the point here. This is by far the best Tottenham starting back four when everyone is at full strength, and if Gakpo is at center forward, Spurs would 100 percent need the superior overlapping and attacking progression of Destiny Udogie at left back.
DM Mateus Fernandes
DM Sandro Tonali
AM Xavi Simons
Roberto De Zerbi's new classy double pivot is entrenched as the starting duo for Tottenham Hotspur this season. Now, James Maddison is a great playmaker who will get minutes as the No. 10, but with Cody Gakpo at center forward, Tottenham need a more active No. 10 who is better at dribbling and taking defenders on, getting into the box for scoring opportunities. Simons fits that bill 100 percent.
LW Omar Marmoush
CF Cody Gakpo
RW Mohammed Kudus
Chances are, Tottenham can only sign one star winger from Manchester City, as they are already reluctant to sell Savinho. There are rumblings De Zerbi actually likes Omar Marmoush more, and Tottenham were briefly interested in him last winter window before Man City and the Egyptian star himself shut the rumors down.
Savinho could fit, but if Spurs are going with a less traditional No. 9 in Gakpo, who is equal parts playmaker and scorer, then they need two inverted wingers. Savinho can invert off the right, but Spurs already have a similar - and arguably better - player there in Mohammed Kudus.
They would then need a left winger who can score, which would not be the left footed Savinho. Marmoush, like Gakpo, is almost like a second striker, but he is more explosive in one on ones and more of a true inverted winger. He and Mathys Tel could be quite the duo of options at left wing for De Zerbi.
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