According to Bein Sports journalist Gurler Akgun, Liverpool have launched a €15 million (£13.41m) move for Besiktas midfielder Dorukhan Tokoz. The 23-year-old has lately emerged as one of Liverpool’s top targets, with Jurgen Klopp keen on bringing him to the Merseyside this summer.
What can Tokoz bring to the table?
Tokoz is labelled as a combative midfielder, who loves to press the opposition and win the ball back for his team. The 23-year-old made 2.8 tackles per game, which is more than any other Besiktas regular this past season. And this robust style of play has combined well with the experienced Atiba Hutchinson that helped the Black Eagles pose a strong threat for the title during the 2018/19 campaign.
Aside from his aggression, Tokoz has excellent positional awareness and is capable of reading the game. He notably averaged two interceptions per game, which is quite an impressive tally for any midfielder. Additionally, the Besiktas star often shines when it comes to man-marking while his discipline always becomes vital, especially when facing quality oppositions.
But, Tokoz’s overall gameplay is not only restricted to just defensive aspect of the game as the 23-year-old is also capable of making driving runs into the final third. From there, he can slot in useful passes in the attack, which is why the midfielder has averaged an impressive 0.9 key passes per game this past season.
Why Tokoz will be a brilliant signing for Liverpool
Tokoz is more or less a midfield enforcer – something Liverpool could really use given the ageing James Milner. The ex-Manchester City star is 33 and is already in the final phase of his career. Tokoz, in that regard, could be an excellent long-term replacement for the England international.
Furthermore, Tokoz’s robust style of play is ideally suited to Liverpool’s gegenpressing brand of football under Klopp. The 23-year-old is sure to thrive in the leeway-oriented press, which focuses on nullifying all the passing options of the opposition ball-carrier. Although he may not be as diligent as Milner, the Besiktas star is capable of providing extensive defensive cover for the backline.
That means Klopp will be able to utilise him in a double-pivot alongside Fabinho. His presence in the holding midfield role will allow the Brazilian to become more expressive in the build-up – making the Reds much more efficient in midfield.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
