Arsenal have now moved ahead of Chelsea in the signing of 19-year-old midfielder Orkun Kokcu from Feyenoord – as per a report in Mundo Deportivo.
Dutch football journalist Martijn Krabbendam had revealed a couple of weeks ago that a number of big European clubs are currently chasing Kokcu and both Chelsea and Arsenal are amongst them.
“There has been an offer from Feyenoord, and he has refused,” Krabbendam said, as reported.
“Feyenoord are offering something, and Kökcü wants more, you shouldn’t think that that boy is suddenly asking for millions.
“It’s no secret that Arsenal has already spoken to Kokcu’s agents, the Seville clubs are also very interested in the midfielder. Chelsea is still playing in the background. Also, the Italian clubs Atalanta and AS Roma are still very interested.”
Now as per Mundo Deportivo, it’s the Gunners who have stolen a march in this transfer race and are now favourites to sign the youngster.
The report claims: “In the gunners, Mesut Özil is neither close to recovering his best version nor is he expected to do so, and one of Mikel Arteta’s great objectives is to find a new peephole with which to focus towards the return to the Champions League.
“The chosen one is Kökçü, who in Holland has amply demonstrated that he is ready to make the leap to a larger team (without detracting from the historic Feyenoord ) in which to develop the version that points to his potential.”
Chelsea to miss out on Orkun Kokcu?
Arsenal are ready to pay around £25million for the attacking midfielder who is being viewed by Mikel Arteta as the long-term successor to Mesut Ozil.
And this move will surely be a setback for Frank Lampard since the youngster is really highly rated in the Dutch circuit. But at the same time, we don’t think, Lampard will be losing too much sleep over this failed transfer.
The Blues are on the verge of signing playmaker Philippe Coutinho from FC Barcelona and if this deal goes through then Orkun Kokcu will not have any chance to break into the first XI at Chelsea next season.
And maybe this is one of the main reasons why the Turkish U21 international has chosen to snub a move to Chelsea and join arch-rivals Arsenal in the summer.
