Benfica star sends clear message to 'father' Arne Slot amid Liverpool transfer links

Liverpool manager Arne Slot had a large narration with Orkun Kokcu portion astatine his erstwhile nine Feyenoord - and the Turkey planetary has sent him immoderate immense praise

Benfica midfielder Orkun Kokcu has hailed Arne Slot arsenic the “best manager successful the world” amid suggestions Liverpool could beryllium funny successful signing him.

Kokcu played nether Slot’s absorption astatine Feyenoord earlier joining Benfica successful the summertime of 2023. The Turkey planetary outgo the Portuguese nine €25million (£20m), positive €5m (£4m) successful add-ons aft enjoying a stand-out 2022/23 run successful the Netherlands.

The 23-year-old was named Eredivisie Player of the Year aft contributing 8 goals and 2 assists successful the league that term. Feyenoord lifted the Eredivisie trophy that season, the twelvemonth aft they finished arsenic runners-up successful the Conference League.

Those achievements were formative for Kokcu, who loved playing for Slot and has hinted that a reunion could beryllium connected the cards successful the future. “Arne Slot is similar a father. He made maine who I am. He is the champion manager successful the world,” Kokcu told TRT Spor.

“When my aged manager (Slot) took over, I had a large breakthrough successful his archetypal season. We reached the last of the Conference League that year, but unluckily we lost. Still, I deliberation my show that play was precise good. I really wanted to transportation successful the summer; immoderate of the large clubs successful the apical six successful England were funny successful me.

“We had superior talks astir a transfer, but it didn't hap astatine the past minute. The pursuing season, Arne Slot made maine skipper of the team, and that work accrued my show adjacent more.”

Kokcu recorded 32 goals and 27 assists successful 175 games for Feyenoord altogether and has continued to impressment with Benfica. He has 11 goals and 14 assists successful 58 matches for the Portuguese giants, who are 3rd successful their home league and 19th successful the Champions League aft 4 games.

Liverpool person been linked with a determination for Kokcu owed to Slot’s connection, but determination person been conflicting reports implicit the feasibility of specified a deal. While helium is reported to person a €150m (£125m) merchandise clause, determination are suggestions helium could beryllium disposable for €80m (£67m) adjacent summer.

Liverpool took the determination not to motion immoderate midfielders successful the summertime transportation window, leaving Slot to enactment with the ones that helium inherited from Jurgen Klopp. That determination has been inspired truthful far, with the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones stepping up their performances to assistance the Reds marque a stunning commencement to the campaign.

Slot’s broadside are 5 points wide astatine the apical of the Premier League and person a cleanable grounds successful the Champions League, wherever they besides apical the table. After the planetary break, they are backmost successful Premier League enactment against bottommost broadside Southampton astatine St Mary’s connected Sunday.

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