Liverpool's Transfer Plans: N’Guessan Secured and Gakpo's Future at Stake

Liverpool’s late-window plans are moving on two tracks at once: the future and the here-and-now.

On one side, Fabrizio Romano has delivered his familiar “here we go” on a deal for Saint-Etienne’s highly regarded teenager Djylian N’Guessan. On the other, Liverpool are locked in a high-stakes triangle involving Cody Gakpo, Manchester City and Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr, with the clock ticking towards Tuesday night’s deadline.

Liverpool secure N’Guessan for the long term

Saint-Etienne have never hidden that the door was open for N’Guessan at the right price. The 18-year-old, under contract until 2027, has been flagged in France as one of ASSE’s brightest attacking assets, and Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna was first to reveal that Liverpool had moved into advanced talks.

Aouna reported that only “last details” were left to settle between the clubs, with Liverpool viewing N’Guessan as a significant prospect for the years ahead. The window for a deal, he warned, was down to hours.

Romano then followed up with confirmation. Liverpool have an agreement in place with Saint-Etienne for the versatile forward, with the structure clear: N’Guessan will remain in France for another season and officially join the Reds in the summer of 2027. The player side is also done, with Liverpool granted authorization for a medical.

He becomes the latest in a growing line of future-focused signings, following Lucca Brughmans, as Liverpool continue to stockpile emerging talent while reshaping the senior attack under Andoni Iraola.

The move for N’Guessan, though, is strategic rather than reactive. It will not alter Liverpool’s aggressive push to add a first-team winger before the deadline.

Barcola in, Gakpo ready for City – if Liverpool find their winger

The immediate domino sits much closer to the top of the squad.

Bradley Barcola has already completed his medical ahead of a high-profile switch from PSG and is poised to sign his contract, giving Iraola a new, dynamic option in the wide areas. His arrival is set to unlock Cody Gakpo’s proposed move to Manchester City.

Gakpo, who had the option of an £85 million transfer to Tottenham, has chosen City instead. Romano says the Dutch forward has reached a full agreement on personal terms with Pep Guardiola’s side, and City have submitted an £85 million bid to Liverpool.

Liverpool’s stance is firm. They will only sign off on Gakpo’s departure if they secure a right winger before the deadline. No winger, no sale.

That single condition now shapes the rest of their window.

Sarr the top target as Palace hold the line

The name at the top of Liverpool’s list is clear: Ismaila Sarr.

Romano reports that Sarr currently leads the internal discussions ahead of Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh. Liverpool already tested Crystal Palace’s resolve earlier in the week, submitting a formal offer worth £45 million plus £5 million in add-ons – a £50 million package in total.

Palace rejected it.

Publicly, there had been little noise linking Sarr with Anfield before that bid. Behind the scenes, though, Liverpool moved decisively, putting an official written offer on the table rather than a tentative verbal enquiry. Palace’s response has been consistent so far: no sale at that price.

The London club are, however, scanning the market for potential winger replacements, a tell that they are at least preparing for the possibility of a serious proposal they cannot refuse.

Sarr’s position is straightforward. He wants the move. He wants Liverpool. The final decision now rests with the clubs, not the player.

A frantic finish ahead

Liverpool’s need for a winger is no secret. Agents and clubs across Europe know it, and, as Romano puts it, options are being thrown at Anfield “every minute.” Yet amid the noise, the hierarchy have narrowed their focus: secure a right-sided attacker of the required level, then release Gakpo to Manchester City. Fail to do so, and Gakpo stays.

At the same time, the N’Guessan deal underlines a parallel strategy: build the next Liverpool while still trying to win with this one.

The question now is whether they can land the winger that unlocks everything before the window slams shut – or whether an £85 million move to the champions, and a major reshaping of Iraola’s front line, will have to wait.