Report: Liverpool want to sign Arne Slot’s former captain in €75m move

Turkey international Orkun Kökçü is at the center of growing transfer speculation. With rumors surrounding his potential move, the Liverpool link is particularly intriguing, given his history with our current main player and former Feyenoord manager Arne Slot, as well as Liverpool’s recent midfield rebuild. Is this a realistic transfer possibility, or is it just another tantalizing rumor to fill the international rift? We break down recent reports, stats and comparisons to find out where this transfer could be headed.

The headline in Correio da Manhã (Saturday, October 12, 2024) screams: “Lage seduz Kökçü a ficar no Benfica”, which translates as “Lage seduces Kökçü to stay at Benfica”. Despite offers from other clubs multiplying, including Liverpool, Bruno Lage, the Benfica coach, seems determined to keep Kökçü in Portugal. The article cites the arrival of the new manager, along with Kökçü’s friend Alper Aktrukoglu, as key reasons for his possible decision to stay.

The piece specifically notes: “O Liverpool já manifestou interesse no jogador de 23 anos,” which translates to “Liverpool have already shown interest in the 23-year-old.” While this might excite Reds fans, the article notes that Kökçü is currently thriving under Lage and enjoying the best form of his career at Benfica. Although Arne Slot, his former manager at Feyenoord, is in charge of Liverpool now, convincing Kökçü to leave may not be as simple as some think.

Looking at the statistics of Kökçü’s current season (2024-25), he has already made 9 appearances for Benfica, marking 670 minutes on the pitch. As a central midfielder, he has contributed 4 goals and 3 assists, an impressive output for a deep-lying playmaker. His age (23) is crucial in this conversation as he is entering the early years of his career, making him a target for several European clubs.

A closer look at his positional flexibility reveals that Kökçü can play as both an 8 and a 10, similar to Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai or Alexis MacAllister. His performance in the Champions League, where he scored against Atlético de Madrid, has raised his profile even further. In addition, Kökçü was captain under Slot at Feyenoord, demonstrating his leadership qualities. These attributes (goals, assists, minutes, leadership) make him a valuable prospect for any club looking to bolster their midfield.

For a fair comparison, let’s look at Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, a player in a similar position. Both Szoboszlai and Kökçü can play as attacking midfielders or box-to-box midfielders, and both have scored in the Champions League this season. However, when diving into the stats, Kökçü boasts a pass completion rate of 87.2% with 872 total passes attempted, while Szoboszlai has a slightly better 89.9% with 380 total passes attempted. Kökçü tends to move the ball more with 1769 progressive passing yards, compared to Szoboszlai’s 739.

Both players have made an impact in front of goal, with Kökçü scoring 2 goals from an expected goal without penalty (npxG) of 0.8, while Szoboszlai is yet to score from open play but has an expected goal contribution highest at 1.2 npxG.In terms of versatility, Szoboszlai will be slightly ahead due to his physique which suits Liverpool’s style, but Kökçü’s passing range and vision could make- best suited to a deeper midfield role, similar to Alexis MacAllister. The question remains: Will Kökçü offer something Liverpool don’t already have in the form of Mac Allister or Szoboszlai? Probably not, but his addition would make the competition for places incredibly fierce.

When looking at the possible transfer fee, the Correio da Manhã article does not provide a specific figure, but Transfermarkt currently values ​​Kökçü at €35 million. The contract with Benfica could complicate matters, as he has four years left on the deal, which could bring the fee closer to €75 million, according to some reports. The article also notes: “O novo trenador do amigo Aktrukoglu decisivas para ganhar confindasa e asumir protagonismo”, meaning that Kökçü feels confident under Lage, which could further reduce his desire to leave.

Liverpool, and more specifically Slot, are well aware of Kökçü’s abilities, having worked closely with him at Feyenoord. However, the stumbling block seems to be the fee. The fact that Liverpool would invest such a significant sum in a player who may not be an immediate starter could raise some eyebrows within the club’s hierarchy. While we have liked him in previous transfer windows, this looks set to be a more difficult deal to pull off unless Benfica are willing to negotiate a lower fee. This even if there is a reality. Simply put, it’s hard to see.