Orkun Kokcu eager for Liverpool move as Slot eyes midfield boost Midfield options under review Liverpool’s title-winning 2024/25 campaign was defined by resilience and adaptability. But even the most successful sides leave room for improvement. One area that remains under scrutiny at Anfield is central midfield, with Arne Slot keen to add depth and variety […]

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Midfield options under review

Liverpool’s title-winning 2024/25 campaign was defined by resilience and adaptability. But even the most successful sides leave room for improvement. One area that remains under scrutiny at Anfield is central midfield, with Arne Slot keen to add depth and variety to his options ahead of the new season.

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Caught Offside report that Benfica’s Orkun Kokcu, a former captain under Slot at Feyenoord, is keen on a reunion at Anfield. The Turkish international is said to favour a move to Liverpool over other suitors, which include Manchester United, Tottenham, Inter Milan, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas.

Slot connection driving interest

The connection between Slot and Kokcu cannot be overstated. During Feyenoord’s 2022/23 title-winning campaign, Kokcu emerged as the heartbeat of the team, often dictating tempo and demonstrating leadership beyond his years.

Now at Benfica, Kokcu has enjoyed another strong campaign, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists in the Primeira Liga. His versatility has also been a notable strength. Primarily a No8, he can also operate as a No10 or deeper in midfield, offering the sort of tactical flexibility Slot values.

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“Liverpool are that team,” the report states, referring to Kokcu’s preferred destination. The 24-year-old has previously described Slot as a “father figure,” further underlining the strength of their professional relationship.

Liverpool’s midfield strategy continues

Liverpool’s midfield rebuild has seen a combination of youth and experience arrive at the club. While Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai have all shown promise, the toll of a demanding season highlighted the need for one more top-tier option.

Photo: IMAGO

Pursuits of players such as Martin Zubimendi, Samuel Ricci and Nico Gonzalez did not bear fruit. Ricci joined Milan, Gonzalez moved to Manchester City and Jauregizar extended his contract at Athletic Club.

Kokcu now appears to be one of the more viable targets remaining, and with Benfica reportedly open to a €40 million deal, the financial side of negotiations could prove manageable.

Agency links could ease negotiations

Kokcu is represented by LIAN Sports, the same agency behind Liverpool’s interest in Milos Kerkez and previously linked with Federico Chiesa. That relationship may aid negotiations if Liverpool choose to act swiftly in the market.

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The potential return of a Slot-Kokcu partnership is both strategic and sentimental. This is not a typical scouting link based on raw data or brief flashes of brilliance. This is a connection rooted in trust, understanding and proven impact on the pitch.

Liverpool fans will remember how integral Kokcu was to Feyenoord’s rise under Slot. His ability to carry possession, switch play and knit together phases could add a different texture to a midfield that sometimes ran out of ideas during slower passages of play.

His €40 million valuation is not outlandish in the current market, particularly for a 24-year-old with Champions League and international experience. What gives this rumour more weight is Kokcu’s clear preference for a move to Anfield. That kind of intent can’t be underestimated, especially when the manager already knows exactly how to utilise him.

Kokcu might not arrive as a guaranteed starter, but in a long season competing on multiple fronts, he could prove to be the missing piece in a midfield that has already come a long way in a short time.

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Liverpool Scouts Track Parma’s Giovanni Leoni Amid Summer Defensive Plans Attention turns to Serie A prospect Liverpool’s recruitment strategy this summer has been methodical, focusing not only on strengthening key areas but also future-proofing a squad in transition. With several signings already confirmed, including the arrivals of Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, attention has now […]

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Attention turns to Serie A prospect

Liverpool’s recruitment strategy this summer has been methodical, focusing not only on strengthening key areas but also future-proofing a squad in transition. With several signings already confirmed, including the arrivals of Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, attention has now shifted to central defence. The club is reportedly monitoring Parma’s 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni, according to Parma Today.

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Leoni, who joined Parma from Sampdoria for £4.1 million, has enjoyed a rapid rise in Serie A and is now on the radar of some of Europe’s elite. Liverpool, among others, are said to be impressed by his physical and technical qualities, with Parma Today reporting: “The news is that his technical and athletic skills have impressed the scouts of the English champion Liverpool.”

Liverpool’s long-term strategy in defence

With Jarell Quansah having joined Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool are actively seeking a young centre-back to develop under the guidance of Arne Slot and the experienced Virgil van Dijk. Leoni fits the profile, with raw potential, intelligence in possession and room to evolve into a future first-choice defender.

Photo: IMAGO

The club’s recruitment model under Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes places a premium on emerging talent. Leoni’s performances for Parma have evidently piqued interest in Kirkby, where the club’s data-led approach to scouting continues to influence transfer priorities.

Parma hopeful of keeping rising star

Despite the attention, Parma remain hopeful of keeping Leoni. CEO Federico Cherubini told Sky: “There is also interest from abroad in Leoni… We said that his journey, in our opinion, has just begun in Parma and should continue.”

He added: “To date we have not had any opposing signals from Leoni or his entourage, we are convinced that he can stay in Parma, or in any case that it is the best thing for Parma and for the player himself. The market has just started, and anything can happen.”

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That caveat may offer Liverpool encouragement. The Premier League club have shown willingness to invest early and decisively in young players before their price inflates. Should interest solidify into a formal approach, Parma may face a difficult decision if Leoni expresses a desire to move.

Leoni adds to growing shortlist

Leoni joins a growing list of young defenders Liverpool are believed to be considering. With Van Dijk now entering the twilight of his career and Ibrahima Konaté entering the final year of his contract, Slot’s squad is likely to require fresh legs at the back if Liverpool are to mount a sustained challenge across four competitions next season.

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The interest in Giovanni Leoni is the sort of smart, forward-thinking move that supporters have come to expect. The recruitment model has long prioritised youth with high ceilings, and Leoni, at 18, is already gaining top-flight experience in Italy.

Supporters have seen how effective these types of signings can be. The hope is always to find the next Robertson or Matip before they become unaffordable. In this case, the move for Leoni feels like a proactive solution to a defensive issue that has been quietly looming.

With Quansah’s departure and the occasional fragility shown by Konaté and Gomez, depth at centre-back is not just a luxury but a necessity. There will be understandable caution, given Leoni’s inexperience, but if the club’s scouts believe he fits the DNA, most fans will trust the process.

And let’s not forget, Anfield has always responded to defenders who play with heart and intelligence. If Leoni does arrive, he’ll be judged on those terms more than the price tag or passport.

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Liverpool players started arriving for pre-season today in Kirkby following Jota's death last week

Liverpool players started arriving for pre-season today in Kirkby following Jota's death last week

Spanish police say "all the evidence so far indicates" Diogo Jota was the driver of the car involved in the accident that killed the Liverpool forward and his brother, Andre Silva.

Police also believe "the vehicle significantly exceeded the speed limit for the highway" at the time of the accident.

The accident happened at 12.30am local time on Thursday (11.30pm Wednesday BST) on the A-52 motorway in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora.

It is understood Jota was travelling from Portugal to Santander in northern Spain, where he was due to take the ferry back to England.

A statement published by the Civil Guard in Zamora on Tuesday read: "The expert report is being prepared and finalised.

"Among other things, the marks left by one of the vehicle's wheels are being examined.

"All the evidence so far indicates that the driver of the crashed vehicle was Diogo Jota.

"The expert report is not yet complete, but as it is subject to judicial review, it will be submitted to the Puebla de Sanabria court."

Last Thursday, the Civil Guard said in a statement to Sky Sports News: "A vehicle left the road and everything indicates a tyre burst while overtaking.

"As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both people were killed."

The funeral for Jota and his brother, Silva, was held in the town of Gondomar, near Porto, on Saturday.

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Spanish police say "all the evidence so far indicates" Diogo Jota was the driver of the car involved in the accident that killed the Liverpool forward and his brother, Andre Silva.

Nat Phillips delivers powerful tribute to Jota, ‘a special human being’ Reflections from the dressing room In the quiet aftermath of unimaginable loss, Nat Phillips has offered words that reflect more than football. His tribute to Diogo Jota is not a standard statement of remembrance but something deeper, more textured. It captures the emotional residue […]

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Reflections from the dressing room

In the quiet aftermath of unimaginable loss, Nat Phillips has offered words that reflect more than football. His tribute to Diogo Jota is not a standard statement of remembrance but something deeper, more textured. It captures the emotional residue left behind by a teammate who was more than a forward, more than a player.

Phillips, now at West Brom, played alongside Jota during the turbulent 2020/21 season when empty stands echoed louder than full stadiums ever had. Amid that strange landscape, Jota emerged as a spark. Not just on the pitch but within the dressing room, where connection and camaraderie often meant more than points.

Photo by Dave Thompson Jota’s character beyond the game

Taking to Instagram, Phillips wrote:
“I’ve got to be honest, I’ve been struggling with this, as I’m worried I don’t have the words. How do I even begin to do justice to someone who was loved by all of us, someone who lit up countless lives and meant so much to just as many?”

“Jots, along with the rest of the world, I’m really going to miss you mate. It was a pleasure and an honour to share the dressing room with you and to be part of so many special moments and memories that we shared.”

“You were always up for a laugh and a wind up. More than anything else, you always stayed true to yourself regardless of your success in life. The reality is that nothing was ever going to change you. You were too good, too grounded for that. A top friend, a magical footballer but most importantly a special human being.”

It reads not like a formal farewell but like something you’d hear at Melwood, or the AXA Training Centre, after a late training session or over coffee between sessions.

Echoes of something greater

What Phillips articulates is what so many of Jota’s teammates have also expressed in the wake of his passing. Alisson, Conor Coady and others have poured out similar sentiments. The football has been praised, yes. But what lingers is the man. The warmth. The ability to make a club like Liverpool feel like a home, not just a workplace.

In a world increasingly dictated by performance metrics, GPS trackers and tactical algorithms, Jota was also someone who brought presence. Someone who, as Phillips described, could laugh and wind teammates up, but never veered from authenticity. Fame never bent him. Success didn’t alter him.

He was, as the tribute underlines, “too good, too grounded for that.”

Tributes from every corner

Outside Anfield, a different kind of football mosaic has been building. Shirts, scarves, flowers, handwritten notes and hand-painted banners cover the gates and railings. Supporters paying tribute not only to a player they adored, but to a man they respected. Many were also remembering Jota’s brother, Andre Silva, whose death in the same tragic incident has further deepened the grief across both the footballing world and the public.

The symbolism of the number 20 shirt, so often held up as the saviour in difficult moments for Liverpool, now represents something else. It stands for memory, connection and a bond between those who play the game and those who watch it.

Football’s unspoken truth

What makes tributes like Phillips’ so striking is how they expose the fragility behind the fortress of elite football. It is a culture that prizes strength but thrives on connection. When that connection is lost, the silence speaks louder than the noise.

Liverpool will continue. Matches will return. Goals will be scored again at the Kop end. But something ineffable has gone. Something irreplaceable. And perhaps that’s the point of tributes like this, not to fill the silence, but to sit with it and remember who once gave it voice.

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Luis Diaz has attracted interest from rival clubs this summer but Liverpool have so far remained firm on his future

Luis Diaz has attracted interest from rival clubs this summer but Liverpool have so far remained firm on his future

Conor Coady has paid tribute to former team-mate Diogo Jota

Conor Coady has paid tribute to former team-mate Diogo Jota

‘Just bring Jota on’ tribute captures hearts of Liverpool supporters Framed message speaks volumes Among the sea of red at Anfield, one tribute stood out like a last-minute winner in front of the Kop. Olivia Hayes, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, left a framed message among the flowers, scarves and shirts, one that cut through the […]

The post Why one Jota tribute has captured the hearts of Liverpool supporters appeared first on anfieldindex.com.

Liverpool club chaplain Bill Bygroves discussed grief and sent an emotional message of support after Diogo Jota's tragic death

Liverpool club chaplain Bill Bygroves discussed grief and sent an emotional message of support after Diogo Jota's tragic death

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Итальянский "Наполи" готов заплатить 55 миллионов евро (47.4 млн. фунтов) за нападающего "Ливерпуля" Дарвина Нуньеса.

По информации Sky Sports, "Ливерпуль" открыт к предложениям насчет Нуньеса, который не смог заслужить доверие главного тренера "красных" Арне Слота в минувшем сезоне.

Прежде к Нуньесу существовал интерес из Саудовской Аравии, а сам Дарвин мечтал поиграть в Испании, но в данный момент "Наполи" выглядит наиболее вероятным направлением для 26-летнего уругвайца.

"Наполи" готов предложить "Ливерпулю" за Нуньеса 47.4 млн. фунтов, включая 4.4 млн. фунтов в виде бонусов, а самому Дарвину платить до 100,000 фунтов в неделю "чистыми".

Ожидается, что в случае расставания с Нуньесом "Ливерпуль" постарается приобрести другого нападающего этим летом.

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Liverpool began pre-season testing at the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday, with Mohamed Salah and new signing Jeremie Frimpong among the first to arrive.

Tributes were laid at the gates of the AXA Training Centre for the late Diogo Jota, whose sad death prompted the club to delay the start of pre-season.

With players and staff travelling to Portugal for the striker’s funeral last week, plans for a phased return from Friday were pushed back to Tuesday.

It remains to be seen if the full squad is due back to Kirkby on the same day, though a number have already been pictured arriving at the training ground.

Salah was among those spotted reporting back to work along with Frimpong, who will officially begin life as a Liverpool player following his £29.5 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.

Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo were also seen at the AXA, with Arne Slot‘s fitness staff expected to begin initial tests before ball work can resume.

Coverage of Liverpool’s pre-season is unlikely to run as usual following Jota’s passing, with a more low-key atmosphere to be anticipated.

Slot will still welcome at least five new players to his squad, with Frimpong joined by record signing Florian Wirtz, left-back Milos Kerkez and goalkeepers Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman.

Armin Pecsi, the 20-year-old goalkeeper signed from Puskas Akademia, is also likely to join the first-team squad despite plans to represent the U21s next season.

The majority of the senior squad attended Jota’s funeral in Gondomar on Saturday, though Salah was not among those pictured at a ceremony held in the hometown of his teammate and brother Andre Silva.

Tributes to Diogo Jota outside the AXA Training Centre this morning ahead of LFC’s first day of pre-season training. pic.twitter.com/IgVV90Md5c

— Jamie Greer (@jamiemgreer) July 8, 2025

In a tribute on Instagram, the Egyptian wrote: “I am truly lost for words.

“Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break.

“Team mates come and go but not like this. It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we go back.

“My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children.

“Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten.”

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Liverpool’s Pre-Season Fixtures Begin Amid Mourning and Memory There are moments in football that defy rhythm and rupture the script. A pre-season that ought to be marked by sweat, tactical diagrams and ill-fitting training gear is, for Liverpool, overshadowed by a grief that has no timetable. The return to the AXA Training Centre this week […]

The post Full Liverpool Pre-Season Fixture List with Changes Likely appeared first on anfieldindex.com.