ARSENAL are favourites to land Feyenoord starlet Orkun Kokcu as replacement for Mesut Ozil this summer, beating Chelsea to the punch. Mikel Arteta is set to spend between around £23million on the Dutch-born attacking midfielder, 19, say reports in Spain. Mundo Deportivo claim Kokcu would be a like-for-like replacement for Ozil, whose time at the […]
ARSENAL are favourites to land Feyenoord starlet Orkun Kokcu as replacement for Mesut Ozil this summer, beating Chelsea to the punch.
Mikel Arteta is set to spend between around £23million on the Dutch-born attacking midfielder, 19, say reports in Spain.
Mundo Deportivo claim Kokcu would be a like-for-like replacement for Ozil, whose time at the Emirates appears to be over after another turbulent season in North London.
Frank Lampard’s Blues had been linked with the No10, along with Spanish sides Sevilla and Real Betis – with Serie A giants Roma and Atalanta also keen.
Feyenoord don’t want to sell Kokcu and, earlier this season, were determined to stave off the advances of Europe’s biggest and richest clubs.
But the impact of coronavirus may have forced their hand, with £20m seemingly enough to secure the attacking midfielder.
Arteta has been keeping a close eye on the Holland Under-19s and Turkey Under-21s midfielder for several months.
Arsenal have already made contact with the 19-year-old’s representatives following his impressive spell of form.
Kokcu has scored two goals and added a further four assists in 22 games this season for the Eredivisie giants.
And Manchester United legend Jaap Stam reckons the youngster has the ability to play for the Premier League giants.
He told Goal: “He would need to adjust because the step to Arsenal and the Premier League is totally different when you compare it to Holland.
“The pace of the game, the quality, the intensity is a lot higher. But he has the ability.
“He is a player who has the personality to want to improve, he always wants to do better.
“He’s never happy with himself, he’s disappointed if he doesn’t score, or if his passes aren’t good enough.”
Stam added: “Now he’s proving himself in Holland and is one of the best midfield players in the country.
“He’s certainly got the ability to make that step to the Premier League.”
