Arsenal to battle Chelsea for Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu
According to talkSPORT (h/t Yorkshire Evening Post), Arsenal have entered the transfer race for the services of Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu amidst interest from Chelsea. The starlet has been a revelation this season and has become a crucial part of both his club and country’s plans
Kokcu is currently valued at £50million in transfer fees which could keep rising if he continues to perform at a similar level. Moreover, there is a chance of other interested parties entering the fray to further increase competition for his signature.
Leeds United are also keeping tabs on the situation as they try to boost their squad, which has been plagued by injuries this season. The 21-year-old could potentially be subjected to a bidding war if all the interested parties heavily pursue him in the summer transfer window.
Who is Orkun Kokcu?
The Turkish international is a central midfielder but can play as a number ten as well when necessary. His excellent technical skills come to the fore while he tries to pick out teammates and break opposition lines with ease. Moreover, he also excels in shooting from long distances and taking set-pieces.
The Eredivisie talent has made 33 appearances this season while scoring five goals and assisting six times across all competitions. That has helped Feyenoord to third in the league table while also qualifying for the knockout rounds in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Despite the Turkish star’s promise, the asking price is too steep for a player who is yet to prove his mettle at the elite level. Forking out huge amounts based on potential alone is not without its own pitfalls and Chelsea will do well to negotiate a lower fee.
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We also need to be wary of the Gunners as they are in the process of rebuilding under Mikel Arteta. Even if we are a better sporting project at this instant, our options in midfield could severely limit Kokcu’s chances of gaining regular minutes right off the bat.
Leeds cannot be overlooked either, as playing under Marcelo Bielsa could be an exciting prospect for an upcoming player. Moreover, they are also a reasonable choice as making a huge jump to Chelsea from Feyenoord may not always be the best course of action. It remains to be seen how this situation would turn out ahead of the summer transfer window. But we do hope that the Blues can secure his services as he could be a future superstar in the making.
