Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has offered a bold assessment of the current Liverpool squad, declaring that Cody Gakpo is the team’s best player. Evra’s comments come in the wake of Mohamed Salah’s summer exit to Trabzonspor, a departure that the Frenchman believes has left a void at Anfield, stating, “Liverpool have something missing.”
Gakpo has been at the center of intense transfer speculation since the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 27-year-old, who remains under contract with the Reds until June 2030, has attracted significant interest from Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Reports indicate that Gakpo has already reached an agreement on personal terms with Spurs. However, a permanent move for the £70 million-rated forward is contingent on Liverpool successfully securing two new wide players.
Since joining the club in January 2023, Gakpo has been a consistent contributor, recording nine goals and six assists across 52 appearances for Andoni Iraola’s side last season. He has already opened his scoring account for the current campaign. While Evra praised Gakpo’s quality, he also offered observations on attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, suggesting the German international is still adjusting to his new environment.
In terms of squad management, journalist David Lynch reports that Liverpool are not planning to pursue a new midfielder before the summer transfer window closes. This decision follows the £30 million sale of Curtis Jones to Inter Milan. The club reportedly turned down an opportunity to sign Lamine Camara from AS Monaco, signaling a preference to rely on their existing options, including Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Trey Nyoni, and James McConnell.
While the midfield appears set, Liverpool are actively working to bolster their attacking options. The Merseyside club is reportedly nearing a £120 million deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, a move that could facilitate the departure of other squad members as the team looks to reshape its forward line. The report also notes that since the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Gakpo has popped up as a major topic of transfer discussion.
