What do you do when you’re left without any Liverpool action for over two weeks? Well, you watch Turkey vs. Hungary of course.
It might not seem like the obvious place for your average Reds fan to get their soccer fix, but there is of course some interest to be had from Dominik Szoboszlai’s involvement, with the midfielder captaining Hungary. Not only that, but there was also something of a glimpse into Liverpool’s potential future.
Milos Kerkez is another of Hungary’s stars, and he will no doubt have plenty of eyes on him as the summer transfer window approaches. Speculation is growing that a move to Anfield could soon be in the pipeline for him, with Liverpool looking likely to be in the market for a long-term heir to Andy Robertson.
There was some encouragement to be had for Reds fans watching both Szoboszlai and Kerkez, especially during one moment in the first half of the UEFA Nations League play-off. The latter played a long ball to the Liverpool man, with Szoboszlai laying off a teammate with a neat first touch, although Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir was equal to the resultant shot.
It ultimately wasn’t to be for Hungary, with Szoboszlai and co having plenty of work to do in the return leg if they’re to stay in League A, with Turkey holding a 3-1 advantage. But while Kerkez might not have quite furthered his cause for a Liverpool move, another player might well have caught Arne Slot’s eye – and it’s one he’ll know very well.
With Arda Guler missing, there might have been some concern over where Turkey’s threat would come from, but Orkun Kokcu had the answer. The midfielder proved to be a constant menace to Hungary during the first half, and opened the scoring with a really well-taken strike, driving the ball low and hard from the edge of the box.
(Image: Getty Images)
It was a superb performance from the Benfica star, who has been linked with Liverpool over the past year or so. Much of that will be down to Slot’s influence, with Kocku having played under the Reds boss at Feyenoord.
Not only that, but it sounds like the 24-year-old would welcome the opportunity to work with Slot again. “Arne Slot is like a father. He made me who I am. He is the best coach in the world,” he revealed to TRT Spor back in November.
So is a reunion possible? Kokcu’s father certainly isn’t ruling it out: “Arne is a good friend of ours. He has been through a lot of things with Orkun. Yes, why not? It’s possible.”
That’s not to say a move to Liverpool would be a foregone conclusion. For starters, Benfica would demand a pretty hefty fee, with the Lisbon club said to be looking for around $86 million, while they may even hold out for the buyout clause of $162 million, which would surely be too steep for the Reds.
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What’s more, Kokcu has courted controversy in the past, having shunned wearing a rainbow captain’s armband in 2022, which the Eredivisie brought in to support LGBTQ+ inclusion. “I stay close to my religion,” Kokcu told ESPN of his decision to reject the armband at the time. “But I also understand the reactions from the outside on the one hand.”
Slot and Liverpool would therefore have to decide whether Kokcu would actually be a smart signing, and not just from a financial point of view. If you wanted more evidence of why he might not work out for the Reds, the fact he will miss the second leg against Hungary through suspension after picking up a yellow card – which could have easily led to a red given some of the challenges he was putting in – suggests he might not be the most reliable option.
There’s no doubt though that he was one of the most influential players on the pitch on a night when Liverpool might have had its eyes set on Kerkez. It might not be the last time we hear about Kokcu as the summer approaches.
