Liverpool are plotting to bring in midfield reinforcements in the January transfer window as they seek to learn from the mistakes they made in the summer.
Martin Zubimendi was heavily courted in the summer and the club were confident of signing him but the Spaniard decided against leaving Real Sociedad in the last transfer window.
The Spain international has further indicated that he is not planning to leave the club any time soon and a move in January is also said to be off the cards.
Liverpool want to bring in a defensive midfielder in the winter window and are ready to part-fund the move by selling Wataru Endo in January.
The Merseyside giants are keeping tabs on several players and the club are keen to finalise a top target as soon as possible before the January transfer window.
Orkun Kokcu has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool and Arne Slot is said to be leading the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the winter window.
Liverpool set to carry out more scouting on the Turkish midfielder
Kokcu previously played under Slot at Feyenoord and the Liverpool manager is believed to be keen on reuniting with him at Anfield.
According to the Portuguese daily Record (via Sport Witness), the club will send an official to Portugal tonight to watch the player in action against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
The Reds are stepping up on their scouting of the player as they prepare to firm up their interest in the midfielder.
Liverpool scouts were present to watch him in Benfica’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League earlier this month.
The Portuguese giants signed him from Feyenoord for a deal worth €30m last year and he has a contract until 2028 with the club.
Kokcu has a steep asking price
Benfica are known for being a selling club and are likely to cash in if they receive a big enough offer for him.
While they are unlikely to want to sell him in January, Kocku still has a price that could force the Portuguese giants to move him on.
At this stage, Benfica do not want to sell him for a figure less than the €80m mark.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will be prepared to fork out a big fee to bring the former Feyenoord star to Anfield in January and adhere to their manager’s request.
