Liverpool Set to Shell Out £38m for Arne Slot’s Premier Transfer Prospect

Liverpool to Face £38m Price Tag for Arne Slot’s Top Transfer Target

Liverpool is set to enter the transfer market with a £38m valuation to acquire Orkun Kokcu, the prime target of their new manager, Arne Slot. According to reports from Fotospor, Slot is eager to bring the Turkish midfielder to Anfield as his inaugural signing.

Slot, who took the helm at Feyenoord in 2021, previously managed Kokcu during their time together at the Eredivisie club. Kokcu commenced his professional career with Feyenoord in 2018, staying with the team until his transfer to Benfica in 2023. During Slot’s tenure, Kokcu featured in 96 matches, scoring 21 goals and providing 14 assists.

Portuguese outlet A Bola reports that Benfica will not entertain offers below £38m for Kokcu. Since Kokcu’s move from Feyenoord to Benfica in June 2023, he and Slot have reportedly maintained regular contact, strengthening the likelihood of a reunion at Liverpool.

Liverpool announced on May 20 that Slot will officially assume his managerial duties on June 1, pending a work permit approval. During his successful stint at Feyenoord, Slot led the team to clinch the 2022–23 Eredivisie title and the 2023–24 KNVB Cup.

Rafa Benitez Shares Insights with New Liverpool Manager Arne Slot

Rafa Benitez, the former Liverpool manager, has offered valuable advice to Arne Slot about the pressures and expectations that accompany the managerial role at Anfield. Benitez, who managed Liverpool from 2004 to 2010, emphasized the need for Slot to quickly grasp the unique demands of the position.

In his column for The Telegraph, Benitez remarked, “Regardless of your prior knowledge, you must quickly learn what it means to be the Liverpool manager. Each game brings an expectation of victory. And if you are winning and performing well, the fans will expect you to win convincingly, often by three goals.”

Benitez’s tenure at Liverpool is best remembered for securing the club’s fifth Champions League title in 2005 and assembling a formidable squad in the 2008-2009 season, featuring legends such as Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres, and Steven Gerrard.

As Arne Slot prepares to step into his new role, the legacy and expectations of managing Liverpool will undoubtedly be significant challenges. However, his previous success and connection with key players like Orkun Kokcu might provide a solid foundation for his journey with the Reds.