Liverpool are in the market for midfield reinforcements after they failed to bring in the elite number 6 that Arne Slot wanted to complete the squad.
Ryan Gravenberch’s emergence as a defensive midfielder this season has been a boon for the Reds but it doesn’t hide the fact that Liverpool failed to sort out one of their priorities in the previous window.
Martin Zubimendi has indicated that he is unlikely to change his call from the summer when he decided against leaving Real Sociedad in favour of moving to Anfield.
Liverpool want to sign a midfielder in the winter window and are prepared to part-fund the move by selling Wataru Endo who has been a bit-part player under Slot this season.
Orkun Kokcu is one of the players the Reds are interested in and Liverpool have been regularly sending scouts to watch the player in action.
The Turkey international worked under Slot at Feyenoord and the Liverpool manager is leading the club’s pursuit of the midfielder.
‘Why not Liverpool?’ – the player’s father
The midfielder’s father has added further fuel to the prospect of the player reuniting with Slot on Merseyside.
He admitted that the family have a close personal relationship with the Reds boss and a move to Anfield could definitely be on the cards soon because of Slot.
Kokcu’s father also indicated that Benfica are aware that the midfielder could move on from the club soon if a big club come calling for him.
“Arne is a good friend of ours. He has been through a lot of things with Orkun. Yes, why not [a transfer to Liverpool]? It’s possible”, he told ESPN Netherlands.
“The most important thing now is Orkun’s focus, that he does well with Benfica. But of course, players and trainers don’t have just one station, the staff knows that too.”
How much will he cost?
Benfica signed him from Feyenoord for a deal worth €30m last year and he has a contract until 2028 with the club.
The Portuguese giants are known for being a selling club and are likely to move him on if one of his suitors agrees to meet their asking price.
He has a €150m release clause in his contract but Benfica are expected to listen to offers of around €80m for the Turkey midfielder.
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