It is absolutely mind-boggling when you look at it now.
Liverpool were prepared to let Cody Gakpo leave this summer.
Not only that, but the plan reportedly involved using the money from his departure to help fund a move for another winger — with Ismaïla Sarr one of the players Liverpool seriously considered.
Thankfully, that deal never happened.
Because just look at Gakpo now.
Gakpo has answered his critics
There was a point this summer when it genuinely looked as though Gakpo’s Liverpool career was coming to an end.
He had struggled for consistency during the previous campaign, and the arrival of Bradley Barcola appeared to give Liverpool another option in the wide areas.
Then Manchester City came calling.
Gakpo reportedly agreed terms on an £80m move to the Etihad.
Liverpool subsequently explored replacements, with Sarr and Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh among the options.
But the Reds eventually decided against selling Gakpo after determining that the potential replacements didn’t represent sufficient value or the right fit.
And thank goodness they did.
Because Gakpo has responded in exactly the way you’d want a Liverpool player to respond.
He’s just got on with it.
The numbers are ridiculous
Gakpo currently has four Premier League goal involvements this season — one goal and three assists — from just 281 minutes.
That’s a goal or assist every 70 minutes in the league.
Opta’s current figures also have him on four goal involvements in the Premier League, with three assists — the most in the division at this stage.
And those numbers don’t even tell the whole story.
Gakpo has looked like a completely different player.
He’s aggressive.
He’s direct.
He’s making things happen.
And, perhaps most importantly, he’s looking like a player who genuinely wants to be at Liverpool.
Just look at the connection with Isak
This is the bit that makes the whole situation even more amusing.
Liverpool were potentially going to sell Gakpo…
And then they signed Alexander Isak.
Now look at the connection between them.
Gakpo provided both assists for Isak’s two goals at Ipswich, producing two excellent forward passes for the Swedish striker.
Then, at Bournemouth, Gakpo was again involved in the move that eventually resulted in Isak scoring the winner.
He drove forward and delivered the ball into the box before the ball eventually fell to Isak.
So the player Liverpool were potentially prepared to sell has already become one of the key players helping their £100m-plus striker settle into life at Anfield.
Football, eh?
I can understand why Gakpo looked annoyed
There were moments early in the season when Gakpo looked frustrated.
And honestly, who could blame him?
Imagine being told that you’re potentially leaving Liverpool after spending three-and-a-half years at the club.
Then imagine being expected to carry on training and playing while your future is being discussed.
Yet Gakpo didn’t throw his toys out of the pram.
He didn’t down tools.
He didn’t spend every interview talking about the transfer.
He simply got his head down.
And his response has been brilliant.
That professionalism was noticed by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who said Gakpo was “massive” for the team and reiterated that he wanted his fellow Dutchman to remain at Anfield.
And then there’s Ismaïla Sarr…
This is where I keep coming back to the original decision.
Sarr is a good player.
That’s not really the point.
The question is whether Liverpool should have been replacing Cody Gakpo with Ismaïla Sarr.
The club ultimately decided against it.
And based on the opening weeks of this season, keeping Gakpo looks increasingly significant.
Liverpool already had a proven Premier League attacker who knows the club, knows his teammates and had already shown that he can produce goals and assists at the highest level.
Instead of starting again with another signing, Iraola now has a motivated Gakpo competing with Barcola, Ngumoha and the other attacking options.
That is a much healthier situation.
Gakpo is currently Liverpool’s best winger
I’m going to say it.
Right now, Cody Gakpo is Liverpool’s best winger.
Barcola has shown flashes.
Ngumoha is an incredibly exciting young player.
There is plenty of potential in Liverpool’s wide areas.
But Gakpo has actually produced.
He has four Premier League goal involvements already, he’s creating chances for Isak, and he’s consistently looking like one of Liverpool’s biggest attacking threats.
And the really exciting thing?
He’s doing it under a manager who appears to have given him a fresh lease of life.
Maybe Gakpo didn’t suddenly become a bad footballer last season.
Maybe Liverpool simply weren’t getting the best out of him.
Hughes must be relieved Liverpool kept him
Richard Hughes was involved in the summer recruitment decisions, and the reports around Gakpo’s potential departure have certainly raised questions.
But Liverpool ultimately made the call to keep him.
And right now, that decision is looking very important.
Because imagine if Gakpo had gone to Manchester City.
Imagine if Liverpool had then spent big money on Sarr.
Imagine watching Gakpo producing these performances for one of our biggest rivals while Liverpool were trying to find a replacement.
I’d have been absolutely sick.
Thankfully, we don’t have to find out.
Gakpo is still a Red.
He’s producing.
He’s creating goals for Isak.
And he looks hungry.
Whatever happened this summer, Cody Gakpo has responded in the best possible way.
He’s let his football do the talking.
And right now, Liverpool would be absolutely mad to take him out of this team.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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