Dirk Kuyt has hailed the rapid rise of Orkun Kokcu after watching the reported Arsenal and Everton target rise through the ranks at the ranks in double-quick time at Feyenoord, speaking to De Telegraaf.
This time last year, a teenage midfielder had just 11 Eredivisie appearances under his belt.
So it is a testament to how he has performed across 2019/29 that he already has some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs fluttering their eyelashes in his direction.
Sky claims that Everton are interested in bringing Kokcu to Goodison Park in a deal that has Marcel Brands’ fingerprints all over it.
Chelsea continue to be linked while Arsenal, according to The Mail, have held talks over a deal that would see the Turkey U21 international move to the Emirates in a potential £23 million deal.
Liverpool hero Kuyt made a name for himself at Feyenoord before swapping De Kuip for The Kop and he would surely be full of pride if his young protégé made a similar switch in the months ahead.
“It’s fantastic how many games Orkun Kokcu has already played,” said a man who, over the weekend, left his post as Feyenoord’s U19 coach.
“I dare say that there are still a number of players in the academy who have the same talent and can break through in the same way.
“I strongly believe in the future of Feyenoord.”
With three goals and six assists in 2019/20 alone, Kokcu is already adding an impressive end product to his creative talents. And once Mikel Arteta gets his claws in him, the Dutch-born Turk could be moulded into Mesut Ozil’s long-term successor in north London.
He certainly has the same vision and defence-splitting ability.
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