Liverpool have been told to sign Feyenoord star Orkun Kokcu rather than Ryan Gravenberch by former football manager Aad de Mos. The Turkish international has been regularly linked with a move to Arsenal over the last three years but now the Gunners could be set to miss out if Liverpool were to act on the Dutchman’s advice.
Kokcu has impressed during the course of the campaign scoring 12 goals and producing four assists across 41 appearances in all competitions. He is already club captain at just 22 years old and would bring leadership to Liverpool’s midfield with his best years still ahead of him.
The Turkish international has been regularly linked to Arsenal over the last few years after the Daily Mail initially reported the club’s interest in 2020. Edu was keen to agree a deal for the midfielder ahead of the Euro 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic drastically altered teams’ transfer business.
Now, Liverpool have been told to go after him instead with experienced former football coach De Mos suggesting he would be a good alternative to Gravenberch. The Reds have been heavily linked with the Bayern Munich star over the last week as the club search for an alternative to Jude Bellingham after being forced to pull out of the race for the Borussia Dortmund sensation.
“I think Lazio Rome and Roma, AC Milan and Tottenham, those are teams that could definitely fit,” he said when asked about Kokcu’s future moves on the Twee Viertje podcast.“If it’s a coach who wants to play attacking football and wants to play good football, then possibly, because it’s all grafted on young players. If Gravenberch can play at Liverpool, and Gakpo, he can also play at Liverpool.”
“I think he should look at a club that really suits him. He shouldn’t make the mistake of going to Bayern Munich because of course it’s a hierarchy that determines who plays and who doesn’t, and also determines whether a coach is good enough.
“You’ve seen that now with Nagelsmann and Tuchel, the situation. He has to look at a team where the coach really wants him, then I think it’s mainly with Liverpool.”
It remains to be seen whether or not Liverpool will seek to heed De Mos’ advice as Jurgen Klopp looks to add to his midfield. Mason Mount is another name that has been linked with a move to the club in what is shaping up to be an exciting summer at Anfield.