Leicester City have failed with a loan bid for Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu, according to Turkish publication Sporx.
With Dennis Praet out for the foreseeable with a long-term injury, it seems the Premier League dark horses are looking to bring in an attacking midfielder before Monday’s transfer deadline.
But if they are serious about snapping up another Turkey international in the shape of diminutive playmaker Kokcu, Leicester will have to recalibrate their approach.
Feyenoord have rejected a short-term loan bid for their 22-year-old academy graduate. Sporx adds Kokcu will only leave De Kuip if the Rotterdam giants are offered a substantial transfer fee.
Feyenoord were tempted to cash in for a fee of about £23 million when Arsenal held talks with the Haarlem-born schemer in spring 2020 (Daily Mail).
Since then, Kokcu has signed a new long-term contract, although his form this season has left a lot to be desired.
Former Holland international Youri Mulder was highly critical of what he perceived as a lack of desire during Feyenoord’s 4-1 home defeat to Wolfsberger in the Europa League in November.
“When you see how Orkun Kokcu loses the duels in midfield so Wolfsberger can come through, that’s really scandalous,” Mulder told Ziggo Sport.
Kokcu has also been in and out of Dick Advocaat’s starting XI in the Eredivisie, producing just one goal and a single assist in 17 matches.
But when fit and firing, Kokcu is a technically gifted, tenacious attacking midfielder who loves to skip through challenges and fire off shots from the edge of the box.
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