EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool's Eredivisie alternatives to Mac Allister

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 23 May 2023 08:37 CDT
4 min read

Liverpool’s recruitment team are big admirers of Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu, FootballTransfers can reveal.

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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.

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