Orkun Kökçü’s standout performances have caught the eye of one in all England’s footballing powerhouses, with Premier League giants Liverpool reportedly making ready a transfer for the gifted Turkish midfielder.
The Feyenoord star, who was named Dutch Footballer of the Year within the 2022-23 season and performed a pivotal function in securing the Eredivisie title for the membership, moved to Benfica final summer time.
His development continued in Portugal, the place his performances alongside nationwide staff teammate Kerem Aktürkoğlu have turned heads throughout Europe, together with within the English Premier League.
According to Liverpool Echo, Kökçü has been on the radar of prime Premier League golf equipment, and now, Liverpool are stated to be stepping up their curiosity.
Kökçü’s launch clause at Benfica is reported to be 150 million euros ($158.3 million), however Liverpool is claimed to goal for a deal at a extra reasonably priced value.
Benfica, alternatively, is ready to entertain provides beginning at 80 million euros, which might make Kökçü the costliest Turkish participant in historical past ought to the deal undergo.
So far this season, Kökçü has performed 15 official matches for Benfica, contributing 4 targets and three assists.
His contract runs till 2028, making him probably the most coveted younger skills in Europe.
In an interview with TRT Sport, Kökçü opened up about his switch journey, notably revealing why a transfer to Beşiktaş by no means materialized.
“At one point, my move to Beşiktaş was on the cards. I was with Feyenoord’s U19 team at the time, and they promised me a spot in the first team. But when the preseason started, they didn’t keep their word. I was frustrated, called my father, and told him I wanted to leave. At that time, my father knew Erdal Torunoğulları, and we pushed for the move. Feyenoord didn’t want to let me go, but in the end, they agreed. However, Beşiktaş didn’t meet my release clause of $1 million, so the move didn’t happen,” he stated.
Reflecting on his time at Feyenoord beneath former coach Arne Slot, Kökçü added, “When Arne Slot came, I had a breakout season. We reached the Conference League final, but unfortunately, we lost. Despite that, I think my performance was really good. That summer, I was looking for a transfer, and some top clubs in England were interested. We had serious talks, but it didn’t go through. The next season, Arne made me captain, which boosted my performance even more.”
Kökçü’s efforts have been acknowledged when he was named “Dutch Footballer of the Year” after Feyenoord secured the league title.
But his focus shifted to Benfica after receiving critical curiosity from prime European golf equipment.
“When I realized Benfica was genuinely interested, my family and I discussed the move. I felt that I could play regularly at Benfica and continue developing my game, rather than stay at a Premier League club and sit on the bench,” he stated.
On his time with Robin van Persie, Kökçü stated, “I had the chance to play with Robin van Persie for a season. He had played for Arsenal, Manchester United, and Fenerbahçe, and he loved mentoring young players. He always told me to play vertically, which really helped me.”
Despite his success, Kökçü expressed some frustration with how his accomplishments have been perceived in his residence nation.
“I’ve achieved a lot at a young age, but the Netherlands gets a lot of praise, while Türkiye often overlooks the strength of the Dutch league. Matches like Beşiktaş-Ajax or Fenerbahçe-AZ Alkmaar are great showcases. I’ve always tried to represent my country well, but I haven’t received the recognition I thought I would. It’s left me feeling a bit bitter. I want to succeed on my own without needing anyone’s validation. In Holland, I felt like I was valued more,” he stated.
Source: www.dailysabah.com