Arne Slot may have now delivered a further blow to Tottenham Hotspur’s plans with the Feyenoord manager confirming that he is desperate to keep his Premier League-linked talisman Orkun Kokcu at De Kuip.
The former AZ Alkmaar boss was not the only member of Feyenoord’s league-winning side on Tottenham’s summer wishlist.
According to The Mirror, Spurs had sent scouts to watch the stylish, string-pulling Orkun Kokcu too. Dutch publication Volskrant went one step further; claiming earlier this week – shortly before Arne Slot sensationally signed a new deal with the Rotterdam giants – that Kokcu had been identified as a leading target if the 44-year-old had accepted Daniel Levy’s proposal.
And after committing his immediate future to Feyenoord, Slot now hopes to see the £35 million-rated Kokcu do the same.
Will Orkun Kokcu join Arne Slot in snubbing Tottenham?
“Orkun is a great player. Quality-wise, he can handle a higher level,” Slot tells Voetbal Primeur. “But we are also going to take a step (forward).
“I will do everything I can to keep him here. I appreciate him as a person and as a player. He has every right to make his own choice.”
Kokcu captained Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title since 2017 earlier this month. The Dutch-born Turkey international is not only one of Slot’s most trusted lieutenants, but also the man who epitomises his uniquely-free-flowing style like few others.
Kokcu is the man who makes this clockwork Feyenoord side tick from the centre of the park. A tally of 12 goals and five assists, meanwhile, shows he is not all about controlling the tempo and picking passes.
As for Tottenham, well Levy and co are back to square one in their pursuit of a new head coach. The Independent reports that Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou – who ticks far more boxes than either Antonio Conte or Jose Mourinho did with regards to Spurs’ so-called ‘DNA’ – is now emerging as the latest in a long line of frontrunners.
Postecoglou admitted on Friday to being ‘aware’ of those Spurs links. He remains focused, however, on guiding Celtic to Scottish Cup glory, and securing the 21st trophy of a very underrated managerial career.
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