West Ham United are looking to bring Feyenoord playmaker Orkun Kokcu to the Premier League as Nikola Vlasic closes in on a move to Torino, Fabrizio Romano writes on Twitter.
Those of you with long memories may recall that, back in the spring of 2020, Arsenal entered talks with Feyenoord over a deal that could have seen Kokcu join the Emirates Stadium outfit for a fee in the region of £23 million (Daily Mail).
The Dutch-born Turkey international was just 19 at the time. What’s more, he was in the midst of his first ever season as a regular part of the Feyenoord squad.
Two years on, Kokcu is a far more mature, complete footballer. His form fell off a cliff following those Arsenal talks but, under highly-rated head coach Arne Slot, the now-21-year-old string-puller is going from strength to strength, fulfilling that early promise while blossoming into one of the Eredivisie’s most influential midfielders.
West Ham target Feyenoord’s Orkun Kokcu
Kokcu, in 2020, was tipped to succeed Mesut Ozil at Arsenal. These days, he’s more of a number eight than a number ten. He’s has not lost his eye for goal, however, despite inheriting deeper role in the Feyenoord midfield.
Quite the opposite. He mustered nine goals and a further nine assists during 2021/22, many of those long-range rockets pinged into the back of the net with laser-like precision.
“He is the best in his league,” says former Juventus aca Momo Sissoko, backing the Serie A giants to make a move for Kokcu.
“For me, (Kokcu) has the same quality of play… as Luka Modric. He has the potential to reach his level.”
One-time Feyenoord star Ali Boussaboun, meanwhile, believes Kokcu could soon command a fee in the region of £50 million. In the present, however, it is understood that the Eredivisie giants could be willing to cash in on the academy graduate for a cut-price fee of just £12 million amid concerning financial problems (TuttoJuve).
West Ham’s interest, meanwhile, could pave the way for Nikola Vlasic to depart after one underwhelming season at the London Stadium. The £25 million signing from CSKA Moscow is in talks to join Torino on a loan-to-buy deal.
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