Liverpool urged to ‘cash in’ on forward this summer | OneFootball

Liverpool Transfer News: Why Selling Cody Gakpo Would Be a Risky Call for Andoni Iraola

Liverpool have a new head coach, a squad that needs sorting, and the usual summer temptation to turn one big sale into two or three arrivals. That is the context around Cody Gakpo, after Emile Heskey suggested the club should at least think about a sale if the right bid arrives.

Speaking to Metro, Heskey said: “I would consider selling Cody if a decent offer was on the table. When you’re coming in as a new manager, you have to cold-headedly look at your assets. He is an asset who holds significant market value that you could cash in on to fund your own vision.”

That argument is clean and simple. New coach arrives, checks the squad, identifies who fits, and decides whether one sale can accelerate the rebuild. In theory, Gakpo is exactly the sort of player who generates that conversation. He is 27, experienced, established at a high level, and still carries strong resale value. Reports have placed his valuation around €60m, which is roughly £51.3m. That is serious money.

Photo: IMAGO

Cody Gakpo market value keeps debate alive

There is another part to this, though. Liverpool are not overloaded with specialist wide forwards, and Iraola has already made clear that another winger is needed. Once you accept that, selling one of the players who logged 3,596 minutes last season starts to look counterproductive. Gakpo started 41 matches in 2025/26. Managers do not hand out that volume of football by accident.

His season was underwhelming in front of goal, nine goals is a drop and his attacking play could become too easy to read. Fine. That criticism is fair. But poor form and poor value are not the same thing. Clubs make mistakes when they confuse a dip with a dead end.

Andoni Iraola needs proper assessment first

Iraola has barely had time to put his own structure in place. Selling Gakpo before a proper training-ground assessment would be premature. It would also ignore the reality that players can look very different under a different tactical framework. If the previous cycle had gone stale, a fresh voice and sharper role definition may change the picture quickly.

There is also the practical issue of timing. Gakpo has been away with the Netherlands and scored three times at the World Cup. He is returning from a demanding summer, not disappearing into irrelevance. This is still a player with pedigree, physicality and versatility across the front line.

Liverpool squad rebuild must avoid false economy

If an outrageous offer lands, every club listens. That is football. But actively pushing Gakpo towards the exit would feel like Liverpool creating another problem while trying to solve one. If you need another winger already, removing a regular starter from that area is a strange way to stabilise the squad.

The blunt verdict is this, Heskey is right about the principle, sentiment should not run recruitment. On this specific case, however, the logic is weak. Liverpool need clarity, depth and functional attackers. Selling Cody Gakpo this summer would offer cash, but it could easily create false economy.