Liverpool ready to part ways with Cody Gakpo after frustrating campaign

For all the relief that swept through the away end at the City Ground when Alexis Mac Allister struck deep into stoppage time, the broader conversation around Liverpool has refused to quieten.

A 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest kept European ambitions flickering, yet it did little to mask a growing sense of dissatisfaction – particularly regarding the form of Cody Gakpo.

The Dutch international, once viewed as a cornerstone of Liverpool’s evolving attack, has endured a season that has tested patience inside Anfield and beyond.

One goal in his last dozen league appearances tells a stark story. Supporters, already uneasy after one of the most disjointed displays of Arne Slot’s tenure, were quick to voice their frustration.

Gakpo’s influence waned as the contest drifted, and when 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha replaced him late on, the contrast in energy and incision was impossible to ignore.

Ngumoha’s cameo injected urgency and belief, culminating in Mac Allister’s decisive intervention. It also sharpened scrutiny on Gakpo, whose trajectory has stalled at a time when Liverpool can ill afford passengers.

According to reports from Shoot, the club are prepared to listen to offers this summer — provided a suitable successor can be secured.

Gakpo arrived from PSV Eindhoven in 2023 amid considerable expectation and has since amassed 163 appearances in all competitions. There have been flashes of his quality: intelligent movement, a cultured left foot, and versatility across the frontline. Yet consistency has eluded him. Last year, interest from Bayern Munich failed to materialise into a transfer, with the Bundesliga champions instead opting for a move that reshaped their attacking options.

Now Liverpool’s recruitment team are weighing alternatives. Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United and Jarrod Bowen from West Ham United are among the names linked as Slot contemplates a summer overhaul.