Fabrizio Romano confirms Arne Slot favourite 'on the verge' of transfer agreement

Transfer reports linking Orkun Kokcu to Liverpool have ramped up in the last few days. The Benfica midfielder, 24, is coming off the back of another stellar season and had been touted as a potential €40m arrival at Anfield.

Kokcu, a Turkey international, is well acquainted with Arne Slot having starred under the Liverpool head coach at Feyenoord.

READ MORE: Liverpool look to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for Luis Diaz deal

When the Rotterdam side won the 2022/23 Eredivisie title under Slot, Kokcu was club captain before embarking on his adventure in Portugal with Benfica.

READ MORE: Brentford agree double Liverpool deal

Under contract until 2028, it nonetheless looks like Kokcu is ready to move onto pastures new.

Arne Slot tipped for Kokcu reunion

Liverpool were reported to have scouted the Dutch-born No10 extensively throughout the 2024/25 season - in which he scored seven goals and provided seven assists in the Portuguese top flight.

And it was also claimed that Arne Slot was considering making a bid for his former charge - whose preference was a reunion with the Dutch coach he once described as a father figure.

Kokcu wanted to ascertain just how serious Liverpool were about making a bid before deciding his next move.

Fabrizio Romano confirms Kokcu deal

There were several other clubs interested - among them reportedly Tottenham, Inter as well as Turkish trio Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas.

And now it appears we have an indication of whether not Liverpool have given an answer to Kokcu over their level of interest.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the midfielder is now close to wrapping up a transfer to Besiktas - bringing an end to the summer transfer pursuit.

Kokcu to sign for Besiktas

“Besiktas and Benfica, on the verge of closing the agreement for Orkun Kökçü,” the Italian transfer expert wrote on X.

“Discussions underway on details of the deal but all parties expect the agreement to happen.”

If Liverpool were serious about making a move then we could have expected Kokcu to be in talks over a deal. But instead it looks like the Reds have passed on this opportunity.

READ MORE: 40-goal striker sends come and get me plea to Liverpool

Liverpool have got Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones as their rotating midfield options while Wataru Endo and Tyler Morton are in place as back-up should they need it.