Liverpool's Transfer Window: Elliott Heads to Valencia, Gakpo Targeted by City

Liverpool’s transfer window, already tense and uneven, is threatening to spill into full-blown upheaval.

Harvey Elliott is closing in on a move to Valencia, Cody Gakpo is being pushed towards Manchester City, and Andoni Iraola is watching his squad reshaped at speed while still waiting for the depth he was effectively promised.

Elliott chooses Spain as route back to relevance

Harvey Elliott’s Liverpool story has stalled. An underwhelming loan at Aston Villa last season pushed him further down the pecking order, and now the 21-year-old is on the brink of a fresh start in La Liga.

Spanish journalist Matteo Moretto first revealed that Valencia are moving decisively for the midfielder, describing negotiations as “very advanced” and making clear the deal will be a loan. Crucially, Elliott himself has already spoken with Iraola and, according to Moretto, asked to join Valencia. The player wants this.

The interest has not been one-sided. Elliott has three proposals on the table, yet Valencia are driving hard to beat the competition, speaking both to Liverpool and the player’s camp.

The pressure finally told. Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that Elliott has agreed personal terms with the Spanish club after what he called “positive talks.” The clubs are in direct negotiations to finalise the move on Liverpool’s side.

For Liverpool, it is a calculated gamble. Elliott remains a talent with technical quality and vision, but minutes at Anfield have become scarce. For Valencia, it is an opportunity: a Premier League-trained midfielder, hungry and needing to prove he belongs at the top level again.

Barcola in, more exits looming

All this is unfolding against a backdrop of frustration on Merseyside. Liverpool’s summer has felt bitty, reactive, at times confused. They have finally landed a marquee attacking signing in Bradley Barcola from PSG, a £100m deal plus add-ons that underlines both their financial muscle and their desperation to refresh the forward line.

Barcola becomes the fourth arrival of the window after Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz. On paper, that looks like a solid influx. In reality, the squad still feels light. Iraola, tasked with keeping Liverpool competitive at the top end of the Premier League, is working with a group that arguably needs another forward, a midfielder and possibly a right-back before the deadline.

Instead, the out tray is filling up. Elliott is set to go. Others could follow. And every departure tightens the squeeze on a squad already being asked to stretch across four competitions.

City push for Gakpo as attacking dominoes fall

As if that were not enough, Cody Gakpo’s future is now in play. Manchester City, having lost Savinho and Omar Marmoush to Tottenham, are short in the attacking areas and have turned their focus firmly onto the Dutchman.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider that City are “pushing to agree a deal” for Gakpo and that he has emerged as their “top target” in attack. The twist is sharp: a player long linked with Tottenham in this window could now be lined up to spearhead City’s next attacking iteration instead.

“It’s a surprise that City are actively considering a move for Cody Gakpo,” O’Rourke admitted, before pointing out the obvious – Pep Guardiola’s side need reinforcements, and quickly, after sanctioning exits in wide and forward positions.

For Liverpool, losing Gakpo on top of Elliott, in a window already dominated by the chase for Barcola and the scramble to plug gaps, would be a significant statement. It would also demand an immediate response in the market.

The clock is ticking. Iraola’s squad is being pulled apart and rebuilt at the same time, with key players edging towards the exit and big-money arrivals still bedding in. The question is no longer whether Liverpool will act before the window closes.

It is whether they can do enough, fast enough, to avoid this season turning into exactly the kind of long, Spurs-like slog they have been warned about.