Arsenal are set to make an offer to sign Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu, according to reports in Netherlands.
The 21-year-old, who has scored three goals and provided six assists in 35 matches this campaign, has been hailed as one of the best young midfielders in the league.
According to Voetbal International, Feyenoord’s technical director Frank Arnesen is willing to sell Kokcu in order to raise the budget to make new signings.
The report claims that Arsenal have been considering a transfer move for Kokcu ‘for a long time’ and are now expected to submit a bid ‘within a few weeks’.
It’s also claimed that Arteta is in support of Arsenal’s push to sign Kokcu as he has been aware of the player since his time under Guardiola at Manchester City.
The report also claims that Mikel Arteta sees Kokcu as a player who fits in with his ‘philosophy’ at the club.
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However, the gunners are set to face strong competition from Sevilla for the midfielder. Monchi, Sevilla’s director of football, has even travelled to the Netherlands to hold discussions with Kokcu’s representatives.
Feyenoord had been open to rewarding Kokcu with a new deal but the Dutch side are unwilling to meet his demands.
Jaap Stam managed Kokcu during their time together at Feyenoord and believes the player has the ability to shine at the Emirates, if given enough time to adapt.
‘He would need to adjust because the step to Arsenal and the Premier League is totally different when you compare it to Holland,’ the former Manchester United player said in an interview with Goal.
“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.’
