On October 10th, we covered claims from Portugal which stated Liverpool are interested in Orkun Kökcü and could make a move for the Benfica player.
Indeed, it was considered such a big story that it was splashed across the front page of Portuguese newspaper Record. Arne Slot, having worked with the player at Feyenoord, was said to be leading Liverpool’s interest.
Benfica paid the Dutch club club €25m plus a potential further €5m in bonus payments. They have the 23-year-old secured on a contract lasting until June 2028.
That contract includes a €150m release clause, but it was stated the Lisbon club would be looking for €80m. As we explained at the time, it appeared a Portuguese effort to revalue the player, after he suffered a pretty average first season after his move from Feyenoord.
Despite that, the claims got traction and have been repeatedly covered across Europe.
Even this week’s edition of SportBild takes a look at the situation, and they believe Kökcü would cost around €50m. For Liverpool, there’s insistence ‘the money is there’ to do the deal.
Interestingly, Record today report Liverpool will have an official at the Estádio da Luz this evening, as Benfica take on, of all people, Feyenoord, in the Champions League.
It’s stated that’s to watch Kökcü, after also seeing him against Atletico Madrid, and Álvaro Carreras, although Manchester United have a €20m purchase clause for the latter.
