CONFIRMED: Liverpool join race for Feyenoord midfielder

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 20 May 2023 06:14 BST
4 min read

Liverpool are one of the many Premier League clubs interested in Orkun Kokcu, further reports have suggested.

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FootballTransfers brought you the news that the Reds were keen on the 22-year-old Feyenoord captain and midfielder.

But the latest story has suggested that Tottenham have held conversations for the player and could make an offer very soon.

Dutch outlet 1908NL says that the captain is being looked at by a whole host of Premier League sides ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, with the Reds included.

Kokcu on Reds’ radar

The Reds have had their eye on the Eredivisie following the January move of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven. Kokcu is someone they are considering a move for, but they are intent on ensuring some big purchases are made first. The side have also an interest in Tijani Reijnders from AZ Alkmaar, but the 24-year-old features lower down the list.

Alexis Mac Allister, thought to be the Jude Bellingham alternative, remains the player most likely to be the first through the door at Anfield in the summer. We understand that Liverpool - and working with Jurgen Klopp - remain his priority above all others, and if the side were to miss out on the Champions League this time around, it would not affect his decision to move there.

Kokcu, whose family represents him as his intermediaries, has been watched by Man Utd as well, but links have cooled in recent weeks. The extent of Liverpool’s interest in the 22-year-old remains unclear given the major targets they have lined up - there is also a reluctance to bring in the midfielder without having secured a marquee signing first and foremost.

© ProShots - Kokcu is also liked by Spurs

As revealed in March, Southampton’s Romeo Lavia remains liked but it won’t be until the conclusion of the season where the club truly push on with their targets. We were told Southampton will demand around £50million for the teenager, but this could change depending on the level of interest in him.

© ProShots - Reijnders is also liked by the club

Liverpool's wide berth of transfer targets

Kokcu’s deal is up at Feyenoord in 2025 and it is not clear yet how much Feyenoord will demand for him. Reijnders is also a holding midfielder, but his contract is up in 2027.

FootballTransfers were first to reveal Liverpool's interest in Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone of Borussia Monchengladbach, and that talks went on during the winter period.

Thuram will almost certainly leave Nice this summer, and we are told that his price tag of £55m or so is interest-dependent and he could leave for less