Liverpool accused of transfer 'ploy' after Cody Gakpo to Tottenham latest
Liverpool's stance on selling Cody Gakpo is just a ploy which Tottenham Hotspur must be wary of.
That is the view of Spurs expert John Wenham, who was reacting to the latest reports on their interest in the Dutchman.
The North London side are believed to have held talks with the Anfield outfit over a potential move.
The 27-year-old has notched 50 goals and 23 assists in 180 appearances with the Reds.
Roberto De Zerbi is understood to have moved his focus to attacking reinforcements after strengthening the other areas of the squad.
Tottenham News has covered the Lilywhites concerns in the final third and it looks as though they are trying to address it.
What is Liverpool's ploy and how could it affect Tottenham's Cody Gakpo interest?
Wenham accused Andoni Iraola's side of potentially using their stance as a ploy to make Spurs pay more.
It comes after the latest reports from the Daily Mail claimed that the Merseysiders have no intention to sell the forward.
Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “Interestingly, there has been a report that Cody Gakpo is not for sale, Liverpool would not welcome interest from Tottenham.
“Maybe that is a ploy to see how much Tottenham are willing to offer, I have seen that the Reds would want up to £72million for Gakpo.
“It does seem like a lot, but for Spurs, he would be hugely beneficial for the squad, given that he can play on the left-wing or as a number nine, with that flexibility we so desperately need.”
What would Gakpo bring to Tottenham?
Gakpo would bring plenty of experience to the forward line in N17, given his spell with the Reds.
He started 32 Premier League games last season, and notched seven goals and five assists, per Fotmob data.
He averaged 2.43 shots, 0.73 chances created and 4.12 touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes.
Those numbers mean that it is no surprise that De Zerbi is interested and wants to bring the forward into his side.
Whether a deal can be struck remains to be seen, it probably depends on if Iraola's side are serious in their stance or if Wenham is right and it is all a bargaining tool, to find out how far they are willing to go.