Liverpool should have no regrets over their transfer business from summer 2023.
So far, all four of the Reds new arrivals have been proving their worth. Liverpool are reportedly still privately congratulating themselves for the signing of Alexis Mac Allister, while they’re also claimed to believe that Ryan Gravenberch can still go right to the top.
Amid the quartet of signings they did make though, Liverpool were also linked with a number of other players. One of those who was said to have come closest to joining was then Feyenoord captain Orkun Kokcu.
Kokcu was reportedly a key target for the Reds, but ended up joining Benfica instead. Since then, the 23-year-old has been in and out of the team at the Estadio da Luz. And in quotes to De Telgraaf via journalist Fabrizio Romano today, Kokcu has suggested that he made a mistake by joining Benfica.
“I chose Benfica thinking that it was the best option for my career,” says the Turkey international. “But from the beginning, they never made me feel important.
“Maybe I’ve been too modest so far regarding the role I was given.”
Kokcu regretting Benfica decision
Obviously, there’s no reason for Liverpool to feel the same regret as Kokcu over last summer. The Reds did the business they wanted to and improved their team immensely.
However, we’d still have been interested to see what Kokcu would have added to this Liverpool squad.
He was very highly rated indeed at Feyenoord, captaining them to the Eredivisie title last season while being one of the most creative midfielders in the league. Still young, he has the tools to go up another level or two yet.
A move to Benfica looked like a good one, though. Plenty of players have passed through the Lisbon club on their way to – with respect – bigger and better things.
Liverpool don’t have to look too far to see how Benfica can improve and nurture raw and explosive young talent. They did so with Darwin Nunez, and the Reds are now feeling the benefit of that.
There’s every chance that Kokcu will still be one of those success stories. But things could certainly have started better for him.
The Turk has still played a decent amount and has 10 goal contributions in 19 games in the Portuguese Liga. But his 25 minutes off the bench in Thursday’s crucial Europa League game against Rangers is proof that all is not as rosy as it could be.
If Liverpool’s interest still remains, then we’d suggest that this summer could be a good time to swoop in and make another attempt. But if – as is more likely – it has gone, then Kokcu could regret his decision for a while yet.