Liverpool team
Liverpool team
Manchester United are continuing to assess their options in midfield, with several targets being tracked as the club reshapes its squad under Ruben Amorim.
While United have yet to complete a major signing in that department, interest in creative, ball-playing midfielders remains a priority as the club aims to add depth and control in the centre of the park.
With pre-season underway and the clock ticking on the summer window, rival clubs have started to accelerate their own plans — and some are already pulling ahead.
One name that has been linked with United for over a year is now moving closer to a Premier League switch — but it may not be to Old Trafford.
Liverpool are now frontrunners to sign Benfica midfielder Orkun Kokcu, with the Turkish international favouring a move to Anfield over other options, as per CaughtOffside.
Orkun Kokcu, 24, is understood to be keen on a reunion with Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who coached him during Feyenoord’s title-winning campaign in 2022/23.
Slot has made Kokcu a top priority this summer and is pushing the Liverpool board to complete the deal as quickly as possible, with Benfica open to a sale for around €40 million (£34 million).
The player’s strong relationship with Slot and familiarity with his tactical demands appear to have tipped the balance, with talks between Liverpool and Kokcu’s representatives progressing.
United, who have kept tabs on Kokcu since last year, have not yet formalised their interest this window and risk losing out to one of their fiercest rivals.
The midfielder is known for his composure in possession, passing range and tactical awareness — traits Amorim admires — but Liverpool’s swift action may leave United empty-handed.
Unless United step in with a compelling proposal, Kokcu looks destined to wear red — just not the red of Manchester.
And with Amorim’s midfield rebuild underway, missing out on a long-standing target could be a costly misstep.