Manchester City's ambitious attempt to secure Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo for a massive £80 million transfer fee is reportedly on the verge of falling apart. Discussions between the two Premier League rivals had advanced regarding a potential switch for the Dutch international, but the move has encountered major stumbling blocks as the transfer window deadline approaches.

Liverpool had initially signaled a willingness to part ways with the 27-year-old attacker, though their consent was strictly contingent upon securing an adequate replacement before the market closed. Anfield officials successfully finalized a blockbuster £123 million acquisition of French forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain. However, management deemed that addition insufficient on its own and insisted on bringing in another offensive player if Gakpo were permitted to depart.

The Merseyside club subsequently pursued deals for Brighton's Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr to bolster their attacking options. Unfortunately, negotiations stalled due to financial disagreements over the valuations of both players, making it difficult for Liverpool to finalize a secondary signing. Consequently, barring a sudden breakthrough in talks for an alternative winger before Tuesday's cutoff, the club is fully expected to retain Gakpo for the remainder of the campaign.

Gakpo has established himself as a prominent figure at Anfield since arriving from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, accumulating 51 goals across all competitions for the Reds. His consistent scoring record made him an attractive target for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who has been keen to add further depth and versatility to his reigning champions' forward line.

With the prospective deal for the Dutchman stalling, Manchester City are already evaluating alternative options to strengthen their squad. Attention at the Etihad Stadium has shifted toward Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye, who was previously thought to be on the verge of a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

City are now actively monitoring the 26-year-old Senegal international and could soon formalize their interest with an official bid. As the deadline looms, the Premier League champions are moving quickly to ensure they do not miss out on reinforcing their attacking roster before the window closes.

Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.