Reports suggest that AS Roma is engaged in negotiations with Benfica`s midfielder and Turkish international Orkun Kokcu. This development comes as the Giallorossi restructure their squad following the appointments of new coach Gian Piero Gasperini and sporting director Frederic Massara.
Kokcu, a 24-year-old midfielder, joined Benfica in 2023 for €29.7 million from Feyenoord. The player has been on Roma`s radar since 2020 when he was still with the Dutch club.
Despite being born and raised in the Netherlands, Kokcu chose to represent Turkey at the international level. He had previously played for Dutch youth teams up to the Under-19 category.
Recently, Kokcu participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, contributing two assists in four matches. However, his efforts were not enough to prevent Benfica`s elimination in the Round of 16 against Chelsea after extra time.
According to French sources, Kokcu is eager to leave Benfica and is currently discussing personal terms with Roma. This renewed interest from the Italian club comes after both Roma and Atalanta had previously shown interest in the player during his time at Feyenoord.
As Roma continues to rebuild under new management, the potential addition of Kokcu could significantly strengthen their midfield options for the upcoming seasons.