[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"header-nav":3,"footer-nav":29,"article-cody-gakpo-spurs-roberto-de-zerbi-tactical-fit":82,"category-counts-nav":97,"related-cody-gakpo-spurs-roberto-de-zerbi-tactical-fit":107},[4,8,11,14,17,20,23,26],{"label":5,"to":6,"exact":7},"Home","\u002F",true,{"label":9,"to":10},"World Cup","\u002Fworldcup",{"label":12,"to":13},"Standings","\u002Fstandings",{"label":15,"to":16},"Football","\u002Fcategory\u002Ffootball",{"label":18,"to":19},"Basketball","\u002Fcategory\u002Fbasketball",{"label":21,"to":22},"Tennis","\u002Fcategory\u002Ftennis",{"label":24,"to":25},"F1","\u002Fcategory\u002Ff1",{"label":27,"to":28},"Long Reads","\u002Fcategory\u002Flong-reads",{"brand":30,"columns":32,"tagline":80,"copyright":81},{"description":31},"In-depth sports journalism covering football, basketball, tennis, F1, and beyond. Daily analysis, long reads, and expert opinion.",[33,51,59],{"heading":34,"links":35},"Leagues",[36,39,42,45,48],{"label":37,"to":38},"Premier League","\u002Ftag\u002Fpremier-league",{"label":40,"to":41},"La Liga","\u002Ftag\u002Fla-liga",{"label":43,"to":44},"NBA","\u002Ftag\u002Fnba",{"label":46,"to":47},"Formula 1","\u002Ftag\u002Fformula-1",{"label":49,"to":50},"Champions League","\u002Ftag\u002Fchampions-league",{"heading":52,"links":53},"Content",[54,56,57],{"label":55,"to":16},"Analysis",{"label":27,"to":28},{"label":58,"to":16},"Data & Stats",{"heading":60,"links":61},"Company",[62,65,68,71,74,77],{"label":63,"to":64},"Terms of Service","\u002Fservice",{"label":66,"to":67},"Privacy Policy","\u002Fprivacy",{"label":69,"to":70},"Editorial Policy","\u002Feditorial",{"label":72,"to":73},"Contact Us","\u002Fcontact",{"label":75,"to":76},"About Us","\u002Fabout",{"label":78,"to":79},"Website Disclaimer","\u002Fdisclaimer","Built for the love of sport","© SportPulse. All rights reserved.",{"title":83,"slug":84,"category":85,"badge":86,"author":87,"excerpt":88,"date":89,"readTime":90,"image":91,"imageAlt":83,"tags":92,"body":95,"_path":96},"Why Cody Gakpo Fits Spurs as a Different Kind of Forward","cody-gakpo-spurs-roberto-de-zerbi-tactical-fit","football","Transfers","Sarah Martinez","Cody Gakpo is Tottenham's target, but his move depends on whether Roberto de Zerbi wants a creator or a finisher in his front line.","2026-08-08 01:31:15","2 min read","\u002Fimages\u002Farticles\u002Fcody-gakpo-spurs-roberto-de-zerbi-tactical-fit.webp",[37,93,94,86],"Tottenham Hotspur","Liverpool","## Tottenham’s Target for de Zerbi’s False Nine\n\nRoberto de Zerbi has identified Cody Gakpo as a specific target for Tottenham Hotspur. The pursuit is a tactical calculation rather than a rumor. Spurs need a forward who drops deep, links play, and punishes high defensive lines. Gakpo’s profile matches those requirements.\n\n## The Data\n\nGakpo operates effectively as a false nine. He receives the ball with his back to goal but thrives more when drifting into half-spaces. His ability to dictate tempo in the final third aligns with de Zerbi’s possession-heavy philosophy. The Dutch manager requires a forward who disrupts defenses through movement rather than static target-play.\n\nGakpo’s statistical output at Liverpool demonstrates his build-up contribution. He participates in the phase at a rate that suggests adaptation to Spurs’ structured possession would not be an issue.\n\n## Tactical Fit\n\nde Zerbi’s system demands forwards who prioritize team structure over individual stats. Gakpo has shown that willingness throughout his career. Integrating him alongside creative attacking midfielders requires careful planning, but his physicality allows him to hold off defenders while bridging the gap to midfield.\n\nThis is not a role for a penalty-box predator. It is a role for a complete forward, and Gakpo possesses the height, technical ability, and versatility to fill it. He can operate centrally or drift wide, providing tactical flexibility that Spurs currently lack.\n\n## The Liverpool Context\n\nGakpo remains a valuable asset at Liverpool. His contract situation and the club’s depth in attack mean a move is possible with a significant offer. However, the primary driver for Gakpo is the central role Tottenham offers.\n\nAt Liverpool, he shares attacking duties with Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez. Under de Zerbi, he would become the focal point, responsible for both creating and finishing. This shift in responsibility defines the appeal of the transfer.","\u002Farticles\u002Fcody-gakpo-spurs-roberto-de-zerbi-tactical-fit",[98,99,100,101,85,102,103,104,105,106],"analysis","basketball","cricket","f1","general","golf","mma","long-reads","tennis",[108,121,132],{"id":109,"stem":109,"path":110,"title":111,"category":85,"badge":86,"badgeType":112,"author":113,"authorRole":114,"authorInitials":115,"date":116,"readTime":117,"image":118,"imageAlt":111,"tags":119,"excerpt":120},"tottenham-kolo-muani-offer-arsenal-tzolis-rashford-barcelona-january-window","\u002Farticles\u002Ftottenham-kolo-muani-offer-arsenal-tzolis-rashford-barcelona-january-window","Spurs Gamble on Kolo Muani as Arsenal and Barcelona Scramble","tag","James Chen","Senior Football Analyst","JC","2026-07-09 21:00:52","6 min read","\u002Fimages\u002Farticles\u002Ftottenham-kolo-muani-offer-arsenal-tzolis-rashford-barcelona-january-window.webp","Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, La Liga, Champions League, Europa League","Tottenham's offer for Kolo Muani leads a chaotic January window where Arsenal, Barcelona, and Juventus all pursue diverging attacking solutions.",{"id":122,"stem":122,"path":123,"title":124,"category":85,"badge":125,"badgeType":112,"author":126,"authorRole":127,"authorInitials":128,"date":129,"readTime":117,"image":130,"imageAlt":124,"tags":9,"excerpt":131},"messi-world-cup-final-spain-argentina-era-ends","\u002Farticles\u002Fmessi-world-cup-final-spain-argentina-era-ends","The Last Dance Ends in Silence: Spain Break Argentina's Heart","Match Report","Marcus Wright","SportPulse Contributor","MW","2026-07-20 00:03:29","\u002Fimages\u002Farticles\u002Fmessi-world-cup-final-spain-argentina-era-ends.webp","Lionel Messi's final World Cup appearance ends in a 1-0 defeat to Spain as Argentina's worst instincts surface on the biggest stage.",{"id":133,"stem":133,"path":134,"title":135,"category":85,"badge":55,"badgeType":136,"author":113,"authorRole":114,"authorInitials":115,"date":137,"readTime":138,"image":139,"imageAlt":135,"tags":140,"excerpt":141},"can-usmnt-surpass-1994-world-cup-run-2026","\u002Farticles\u002Fcan-usmnt-surpass-1994-world-cup-run-2026","30 Years Later, the USMNT Has No Excuse Not to Surpass 1994","category","2026-07-03 00:06:05","7 min read","https:\u002F\u002Fichef.bbci.co.uk\u002Fimages\u002Fic\u002F240x135\u002Fp0nwf13l.jpg","World Cup, USMNT, CONCACAF","The 2026 World Cup on home soil is the defining test for America's most talented generation of players."]