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Liverpool step up interest in midfield star

Arne Slot has also faced setbacks in emotions

Liverpool are expected to reinforce their midfield options in the upcoming transfer windows after the club failed to sign the defensive midfielder they wanted last summer.

The Merseyside giants chased Martin Zubimendi hard in the summer but the Spain midfielder decided against leaving Real Sociedad after taking some time to ponder over his options.

Arne Slot found a way to turn Ryan Gravenberch into one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League this season, which has saved the blushes of sporting director Richard Hughes.

Liverpool are intent on signing a number 6 moving forward and are prepared to sell Wataru Endo in the winter window to part-fund such a move.

The club’s scouting network is keeping tabs on several players but one name has been regularly emerging on top of the club’s shortlists over the last few weeks.

Liverpool ramp up scouting on midfield star

Orkun Kokcu is a player that Slot admires and his father more or less confirmed that the Liverpool manager is a friend to the family.

The Turkey midfielder made a name for himself under the Dutchman at Feyenoord before he joined Portuguese giants Benfica last year.

Slot wants to reunite with the player on Merseyside and is leading the club’s efforts to sign the player from Benfica in the upcoming transfer windows.

Liverpool had a scout watching him in Benfica’s last two Champions League games and according to Record, more Red scouts were present in Portugal to watch Kokcu against Rio Ave this weekend.

The Merseyside giants are ramping up their scouting as Slot pushes to bring a player he loved coaching at Feyenoord to Liverpool.

Will he be expensive?

Benfica signed him from Feyenoord in 2023 for a fee of €30m and he has a contract until 2028 with the club.

He has a €150m release clause and while Benfica are not expected to demand that figure, he won’t be available for a small sum as well.

      Can you name the team Liverpool signed these players from?

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Dominik Szoboszlai

The Portuguese giants are a selling club but are expected to demand somewhere around €80m before agreeing to let the player go in the upcoming windows.