Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo reflects on ‘tough summer’ after collapse of Manchester City move

Cody Gakpo has reflected on a “very tough” summer that ended with the collapse of a transfer to Manchester City, revealing Liverpool changed their minds about letting him join their top-flight rivals.

The forward scored a superb stoppage-time equaliser to earn the Netherlands a 1-1 draw in Thursday’s Nations League tie against Germany, who are managed by his former club manager, Jürgen Klopp. It continues a bright start to the season for Gakpo, who was an £80-million target for City in August before talks stalled. Earlier in the summer he was struck by tragedy, announcing with his partner, Noa van der Bij, that their second son had died during pregnancy.