Manchester City's pursuit of Cody Gakpo has hit a wall after Liverpool rejected an £80 million bid for the Dutch winger, leaving Pep Guardiola's side scrambling for alternatives before the transfer window slams shut.

According to Sky Sports News, Liverpool's reluctance stems from uncertainty over their ability to find a suitable replacement in the time remaining. As it stands, the club have no intention of selling Gakpo this summer.

Ndiaye back in City's crosshairs

With the Gakpo route closed, Manchester City have refocused their attention on Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye. The Senegal international is, however, already the subject of advanced negotiations between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham and Everton are reportedly deep in talks over two separate deals — Ndiaye valued at £60 million, and Richarlison at £35 million. While both transfers are understood to be at an advanced stage, a resolution satisfactory to Richarlison has yet to be reached.

Manchester City's renewed push for Ndiaye is running in parallel with separate discussions between the club and Everton regarding Jack Grealish. Everton are understood to be Grealish's preferred destination following his loan spell on Merseyside last season, though Sunderland have also registered an interest.

City's thin attacking options

The urgency of City's search for attacking reinforcements was laid bare on Friday, when manager Enzo Maresca fielded Phil Foden on the wing during a victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park — a position Maresca himself acknowledged is not Foden's natural role. City did not even name a winger among their substitutes that evening.

The situation has been compounded by City's own decisions earlier this month: both Savio and Omar Marmoush were allowed to join Tottenham Hotspur, stripping Maresca of valuable wide options. City are now reported to be targeting a wide forward and a central midfielder before the window closes, with Ndiaye and Enzo Fernandez among the names under consideration.

Elsewhere in the window

Liverpool, meanwhile, have been active on their own, signing Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain and bringing in Victor Munoz from Osasuna earlier in the summer. Tottenham had also targeted Gakpo prior to completing the signings of Savio and Marmoush.