The Late-Window Domino Effect
The closing days of the summer transfer window have triggered an unprecedented tactical and financial realignment among the Premier League’s elite. According to reports from The Athletic, a series of high-stakes negotiations are fundamentally reshaping the attacking lines of Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Everton. At the center of this multi-club carousel is Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, who has expressed a definitive desire to join Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City, forcing a sequence of rapid reactions across the division.
While Manchester City and Liverpool negotiate the final terms for Gakpo, Tottenham Hotspur has pivoted swiftly after missing out on the Dutch international. Spurs have reached an agreement in principle to sign Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, while simultaneously facilitating a sensational return for Brazilian forward Richarlison to Goodison Park. Though club sources emphasize that the Ndiaye and Richarlison deals are separate and not structurally linked, their simultaneous execution highlights the frantic, interconnected nature of elite squad building under intense regulatory and competitive pressures.
The Etihad’s Tactical Evolution: Why Gakpo Chose City
Cody Gakpo’s decision to reject interest from Tottenham Hotspur in favor of Manchester City marks a significant moment in the 27-year-old’s career. Gakpo, who joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in December 2022 for an initial £37 million (potentially rising to £44 million with add-ons), has been a highly productive asset on Merseyside. Over 180 appearances for Liverpool, the Netherlands international recorded 50 goals and 23 assists, playing a pivotal role in their 2024-25 Premier League title-winning campaign, after which he signed a lucrative five-year contract extension.
However, the lure of Enzo Maresca’s tactical system at Manchester City proved decisive. City, who have also secured a €40 million (£34.3 million) deal for Palmeiras winger Allan Elias, are looking to diversify their attacking options. Gakpo’s versatility—his ability to operate as a left-sided forward, a central striker, or a deeper creative focal point—offers Maresca the tactical flexibility required to sustain a multi-front campaign. For Gakpo, the move represents an opportunity to establish himself as a primary cog in a system designed for possession dominance, moving away from the transition-heavy demands of Andoni Iraola’s setup at Anfield.
Anfield’s Calculations: Iraola’s Rebuild and the Barcola Catalyst
From Liverpool’s perspective, sanctioning the departure of a player of Gakpo’s caliber to a direct title rival is a calculated risk, but one facilitated by proactive recruitment. Earlier in the week, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola admitted he “cannot guarantee anything” regarding Gakpo’s future. This uncertainty was resolved behind the scenes as Liverpool finalized an agreement to sign highly-rated forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain. Barcola’s arrival provides Iraola with a younger, highly dynamic winger, allowing the club to cash in on Gakpo while his market value remains exceptionally high.
Financially, the deal allows Liverpool to balance their books following significant summer investments. Having extracted peak performance from Gakpo during their title-winning season, the Anfield hierarchy viewed this as the optimal window to restructure their frontline. By replacing Gakpo with Barcola, Liverpool maintains its long-term strategy of squad rejuvenation, ensuring that Iraola’s high-pressing system is populated by players profile-matched to his intense physical demands.
De Zerbi’s Attacking Overhaul: Tottenham’s Swift Pivot
For Tottenham Hotspur, missing out on Gakpo could have been a severe blow, but head coach Roberto De Zerbi has overseen a remarkably rapid pivot. Spurs have secured an agreement in principle for Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, who will become the ninth signing of a highly active summer transfer window. De Zerbi’s squad management has been ruthless; following a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United, the Italian tactician confirmed that Richarlison, Kevin Danso, and Pape Matar Sarr were omitted from the matchday squad after requesting departures in the final days of the window.
Ndiaye’s arrival completes a comprehensive overhaul of Tottenham’s forward line. With 20-year-old Mathys Tel—who has struggled for consistency with just seven goals in 61 appearances since joining from Bayern Munich—currently occupying the left wing, and Wilson Odobert sidelined with a long-term ACL injury, Ndiaye provides proven Premier League quality. The Senegalese international, who scored 15 goals in 67 top-flight appearances for Everton after a £15 million move from Marseille in 2024, is expected to slot into De Zerbi’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system alongside fellow new arrivals Omar Marmoush and Savio, supporting returning stars Dominic Solanke and Mohammed Kudus.
The Goodison Park Gamble: Richarlison’s Nostalgic Return
At Everton, the departure of Ndiaye—the club’s primary creative outlet—represents a significant sporting loss. Ndiaye had declined multiple contract extension offers, leaving the club’s hierarchy with little choice but to monetize his value before his contract deteriorated further. To mitigate this loss, Everton has turned to a familiar hero, reaching an agreement in principle to bring Richarlison back to Goodison Park from Tottenham, four years after his £60 million departure.
Richarlison’s tenure in North London was heavily disrupted by injuries, though he managed 32 goals in 134 appearances. For Everton manager David Moyes, reacquiring the 29-year-old Brazilian is an emotional and tactical gamble. While Richarlison holds immense credit with the Goodison faithful for his role in their 2021-22 relegation escape, his integration into the current squad presents challenges. With Thierno Barry performing well as the central striker, Richarlison may be asked to occupy the right wing—a position left vacant by Ndiaye’s exit and Moyes’ reluctance to hand regular starts to £42 million signing Tyler Dibling. Everton is gambling that the emotional weight of a return to Merseyside will revitalize a player who produced the finest football of his career in blue.