Dutchman Arne Slot is stepping up to the new challenge at Anfield. Liverpool already have an excellent squad of players, but it is increasingly likely that new players will be brought in this summer to further build the club into a powerhouse.
While various names have surfaced and disappeared, including PSV Eindhoven forward Johan Bakayoko, Liverpool are planning to bring in Benfica’s Turkish midfielder Orkun Kökçü from the Portuguese club as their first reinforcement, reports Turkish newspaper Fotospor.
He grew up in Feyenoord’s lower division and will stay with the club until July 2023. He was a mainstay at the Rotterdam-based club, scoring 32 goals and 27 assists in 175 games in total. He was trusted enough to be given the captaincy in the Slott regime, and it is only natural that he would want to bring in the key players of his time.
At 175 cm, he is not a big man, but has the dexterity to use both feet and bring energy to the midfield. Having made 26 appearances for Turkey and gained experience on the big stage of the Champions League with Benfica, the 23-year-old midfielder is making steady progress as a professional.
He is under contract until 2028 and is unlikely to change clubs this summer following last summer’s transfer window. A high transfer fee is also likely to be demanded, and it is unlikely that Liverpool, who prioritise the acquisition of centre-backs and forwards, will allocate their limited budget to midfielders.
Will the Dutch head coach ever bring in a midfielder who is used to the challenge in England…?