Liverpool head coach Arne Slot wants to be reunited with one of his former players Orkun Kokcu, according to AS.

The Spanish publication claims that the Dutchman has maintained contact with the Turkish international, who he worked with during his time at Feyenoord.

Kokcu was sold by the Eredivisie side to Benfica at the start of last season but he did initially struggle to replicate his form in Portugal.

However, after Bruno Lage was appointed to replace Roger Schmidt, the 23-year-old has excelled, leading to several clubs, including Liverpool, keeping tabs on him.

AS report that Kokcu’s entourage has “confirmed” to them directly that the Reds are interested in signing the player.

What do Liverpool fans need to know about Kokcu?

The midfielder was actually born in the Netherlands and he made his way up through the youth ranks of Feyenoord before making his senior debut in 2018.

Kokcu’s progress was monitored by scouts from the Premier League, with Arsenal having taken a keen interest in him. His form did fluctuate before Slot was appointed manager in 2022 but he excelled under the new head coach’s tutelage. Despite playing in a deeper role, he scored 12 goals in all competitions during the 12 months they worked together.

That productive season led to Benfica signing him for €30m in the summer of 2023. As mentioned, his first campaign wasn’t particularly impressive but he is beginning to show his true colours now.

How much will Benfica demand for the player?

AS claim that Kokcu’s current asking price is €50m (£42m), which is not a fee that would necessarily scare off Liverpool from making a bid.

Kokcu would be cheaper than the club’s original top target, Martin Zubimendi, who has a €60m (£50m) release clause in his contract with Real Sociedad.

Find out who is in Liverpool’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here