Mikel Arteta has given Arsenal the green light to pursue Feyenoord starlet, Orkun Kokcu.
According to Voetbal International, the Gunners are about to make an official bid for their long-time target. Mesut Ozil has just one more year left on his contract and Kokcu is being lined up as his replacement.
Kokcu has impressed in the Eredivisie with his vision, creativity and close control. The 21-year-old has gathered 3 goals and 6 assists in 35 appearances this term. Arteta has been aware of his talents even when he was with Manchester City. The Spaniard views Kokcu as a player who fits his “philosophy”.
Former Manchester United defender, Jaap Stam has given has hailed Kokcu’s abilities. He said, “He would need to adjust because the step to Arsenal and the Premier League is totally different when you compare it to Holland. 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 his passes aren’t good enough.
“When I joined Feyenoord, he hadn’t played a lot because everyone said he was too young. I put him in the first team and let him play most of the games, I trusted him and saw a lot of ability in him. 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.”
Reports suggest that Kokcu is worth around £23 million which is definitely closer to Arsenal’s budget for the summer. They cannot outspend other European giants to bring in prominent names like James Maddison or Jack Grealish after going through a financial dip.
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