Arne Slot weighing up move for €40m-rated midfield favourite

It was reported earlier this week that Orkun Kokcu was the subject of transfer interest from multiple clubs.

The Benfica playmaker is coming off the back of another stellar season, where he featured mostly in attacking midfield but also occasionally in other roles.

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Turkey international Kokcu ended up with seven goals and seven assists in the Portuguese top flight - leading to transfer links to plenty of top English and European clubs.

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Inter, Tottenham - and the Istanbul trio of Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas - have all been tipped as a possible destination for the No10.

Kokcu calls Arne Slot 'a father figure'

Kokcu is under contract until 2028 and it’s been claimed Benfica would accept a deal at around €40m for their midfield prompter. The player’s preference however is Liverpool and a reunion with Arne Slot.

Kokcu was the Liverpool coach’s Feyenoord captain when winning the Dutch Eredivisie title back in 2023 before making his move to Portugal.

He has described Slot as a father figure and is reported to be keen on linking up with his former boss once again.

Now it has emerged that Kokcu wants to ascertain Liverpool’s level of interest with GIVEMESPORT reporting that he remains open to moving to the Premier League.

Arne Slot 'weighs up' Kokcu deal

“He is determined to discover how serious the Merseyside heavyweights are about acquiring his services before making a final call on his future,” a report reads.

The same report claims Liverpool have been considering Kokcu as a midfield reinforcement having sent recruitment staff to keep an eye on him last season.

Moreover it’s been suggested that Arne Slot is now mulling over whether Kokcu is added to the Liverpool squad this summer.

Liverpool require more midfielders

“Liverpool sent scouts to watch Kokcu during the second half of the 2024/25 campaign and, having seen him cause problems in the final third of the pitch, Slot is weighing up whether to seal a reunion after initially managing him at Feyenoord,” the report reads.

Arne Slot masterminded Liverpool’s 20th top-flight title in only his first season in charge during the 2024/25 season.

He did it with a limited array of midfield options - including Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and to a lesser extent Wataru Endo.

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Therefore it would be prudent for Liverpool to add one more performer in the position - with Tyler Morton and Harvey Elliott tipped to leave this summer.