City do not usually move without a clear tactical reason. Gakpo would offer a different profile across the front line:
If City are reassessing the shape of their attack, that points to squad planning as much as headline chasing. Reports also suggest movement elsewhere in the market is shaping the picture, so this may be one option on a wider shortlist rather than a deal close to completion.
This is where the story gets harder for any suitor. Gakpo is under contract at Liverpool until 2030, which leaves the club in a strong position. There is no obvious pressure to cash in, and the timing would be awkward.
Other reports say Liverpool are already dealing with questions in midfield after their 2-2 opening draw at Newcastle. In that context, weakening the forward line would look like a self-inflicted problem. Even if the club are still shaping the squad for a new season, selling an established attacker to a domestic rival would be a major call.
Tottenham being linked keeps the market alive, but it does not automatically mean the race is advanced.
That leaves this one in the watchlist category rather than the breakthrough stage. The next development to track is simple: whether interest turns into direct contact, or whether Liverpool shut the door before the window gathers real speed.