Benfica’s Orkun Kokcu suggests why he didn’t join Liverpool after rumours Reds are in for him again

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Liverpool are still in the process of the midfield revamp they began in 2023.

After letting their midfield grow a little stale over the Jurgen Klopp years, the Reds were forced to make some big changes 18 months ago.

In reality, the job of bringing in a brand new Liverpool midfield actually began a year prior.

Liverpool tried to sign Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco in 2022 after Klopp identified the Frenchman as the ideal Fabinho successor.

During the summer windows of both 2022 and 2023, another midfielder who was heavily rumoured to be on Liverpool’s radar was then Feyenoord maestro Orkun Kokcu.

Interest seemed the most significant in 2023, with reports claiming that Kokcu was on the verge of joining Liverpool before Benfica swooped in. Now settled and playing well in Portugal, the 23-year-old has spoken out on the inner-workings of his move from Feyenoord.

Orkun Kokcu opens up on transfer

Given that Kokcu is close to Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, it is perhaps not a surprise that links to Liverpool have started to return in recent months.

Reports from Portugal have insisted that Liverpool are watching Kokcu ahead of reigniting a move in 2025.

And speaking to Turkish outlet TRT SPOR, the Benfica man has now hinted at why he didn’t move to Anfield in the first place.

“When my former coach Arne Slot took over, I had a big boost in my performance in his first season,” Kokcu says. “That year, we reached the final of the Conference League, but unfortunately lost. Still, I think my performance that season was very good.

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“I actually wanted to transfer in the summer; Some of the big clubs in the top 6 in England were interested in me. We had serious negotiations for the transfer, but it didn’t happen at the last moment. The following season, Arne Slot made me the team captain, and this responsibility made my performance even greater.”

“At the end of the season, we won the championship and I was named ‘Player of the Year’ in the Netherlands,” adds the Turkey international. “Midway through the season, we started holding transfer talks with various clubs, including the English Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and Benfica.

“When I realised that Benfica were seriously interested in me, my family and I made an assessment about it. Instead of staying on the bench in England, I decided to go to Benfica, thinking that I could play regularly at Benfica and improve my performance.”

Liverpool should pursue Kokcu move

While Kokcu does not mention Liverpool specifically here, the strength of reports that the Reds wanted him at the time does not make it too much of a leap to assume he’s talking about them, amongst others.

Should Liverpool come back in next year, though, things are likely to be different for Kokcu.

First of all, Slot is now in charge at Anfield. Kokcu is clearly a big fan of the 46-year-old having won the league as his captain at Feyenoord.

If the Reds pay the reported £67m transfer fee for Kokcu it is also unlikely that the midfielder will sit on the bench.

Dominik Szoboszlai has been struggling a little in the more advanced midfield position under Slot and the Dutchman bringing in a player he knows so well to fill that gap would make a lot of sense to us.

He may have chosen a different path previously, but this is one to keep an eye on for the future.