Liverpool interested in controversial midfield captain: report
By Mark White,
5 days ago
Liverpool are still interested in a long-term target – who could cause controversy were he to join.
Arne Slot has so far only made two signings at Anfield. Giorgi Mamardashvili will officially link up with the Reds next summer, while Federico Chiesa has only played 78 minutes – and could already be on the way out .
But Slot's next signing could be someone he knows extremely well, with the rumour mill linking him with his former captain from Feyenoord .
Liverpool linked with €50 million midfield maestro
Liverpool were heavily linked with midfield reinforcement over the summer but reneged on signing anyone when they were turned down by their top target.
Kokcu was an integral member of Slot's side that reached the inaugural Europa Conference League final, captaining the Dutch team along the way from a deep-lying position – and now Sport Witness have relayed claims from the star's father that he could make the switch after SportBild noted a €50 million move could be in the works.
But the controller has received criticism, too, following his controversial decision not to shun wearing a rainbow captain's armband, which the Eredivisie brought in to support LGBTQ+ inclusion.
“I stay close to my religion,” Kokcu told ESPN of his decision to refuse the gesture. “But I also understand the reactions from the outside on the one hand.”
VIDEO Why Chelsea Couldn't Handle Liverpool's Curtis Jones
In FourFourTwo's opinion, Liverpool's LGBTQ+ fans may well be wary of the club signing players who don't align with their values – but it is likely should Kokcu join, he will be given the benefit of the doubt and the support of the whole club. As for the rumours themselves, they could well carry some weight given the Slot connection – though €50m may be a lot of money to pay for a player yet to appear in Europe's top five leagues.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0