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£23m star hints at transfer talks amid reports Arsenal are set to table formal bid
Orkun Kokcu has confirmed his agent is ‘busy’ sorting out his future amid reports Arsenal are set to launch a bid to sign the £23m-rated Feyenoord midfielder, according to the Mirror.
Mikel Arteta is expected to be given a tight transfer budget this summer, especially if we miss out on European qualification, but we desperately need to strengthen our options in the middle of the park as we’ve been poor in midfield once again this season.
Thomas Partey has been strongly linked in recent weeks but the Atletico Madrid star is valued at around £45m – which could be out of Arsenal’s reach – so it looks like Arteta is eyeing cheaper alternatives.
Kokcu has emerged as a potential target with reports in Holland, via the Metro, reporting recently that Arsenal are set to tests Feyenoord’s resolve with an official opening offer in the coming weeks.
The report claims Feyenoord are ready to cash-in on the midfielder to help raise funds for their own transfer plans and value Kokcu at around £23m – which is almost half what Arsenal would need to pay to land Partey.
The 19-year-old has now hinted that his representatives are holding transfer talks as he’s admitted his agent and father are ‘busy’ dealing with interest in his services but the midfielder insists he is only focused on preparing for the return of football.
When quizzed about leaving Feyenoord amid interest from the likes of Arsenal, Kokcu is quoted by the Mirror as telling RTV Rijnmond:
“When the moment arrives and I feel good about it, we’ll see. It doesn’t really matter to me, frankly. My father and my agent are busy with that.
“I try to isolate myself from that. That works fine. Fortunately, I am a footballer and not an agent. I want to make the best of it next season and want to be as fit as possible when the competition starts again.
“For now I’m only working with Feyenoord. I have a contract until 2023, so I’m not in a hurry. When the moment arrives and I feel good about it, we’ll see.”
Kokcu has been with Feyenoord since joining their youth ranks in 2014 and was enjoying an impressive season before football was suspended in March with the midfielder providing 3 goals and 6 assists in his 35 appearances.
The Turkish U21 international looks to have great potential and could be a good piece of business for Arsenal if he was to move to North London and settle quickly in English football.
However, we aren’t the only club in the running for his signature as the Mirror says Sevilla have held talks with the player about a move to Spain so we’ll have to wait and see how things develop over the coming weeks.