Arsenal interested in signing 19-year-old Turkish playmaker

Arsenal are ready to submit an offer to sign Feyenoord playmaker Orkun Kokcu, according to reports in the Netherlands. U21 Turkey international, who has scored three goals and registered six assists in 35 matches this campaign, has been hailed as one of the best young midfielders in the Eredivisie.

Feyenoord’s technical director Frank Arnesen is open to selling Orkun to raise the budget for new additions. The report claims that the Gunners have been considering a move for Kokcu ‘for a long time’ and are now expected to make a bid ‘within a few weeks’.

It’s also claimed that the Spanish manager is supporting the London giants push to sign the 19-year-old playmaker as he has been aware of the attacker since his time under Pep Guardiola at Man City.

‘philosophy’. However, Gunners are ready to face strong competition from Sevilla for the playmaker. Monchi, Sevilla’s director of football, has already travelled to the Netherlands to hold negotiations with Orkun’s representatives.

Feyenoord had been open to rewarding Kokcu with a new deal, but the Eredivisie giants are unwilling to meet his demands. Jaap Stam managed Orkun during their time together at Feyenoord and believes the playmaker, who is valued at nearly £23m, can shine at Emirates if given enough time to adapt.

‘He would need to adjust because the step to Arsenal and the Premier League is different when you compare it to Holland, He’s certainly got the ability to take that step to the Premier League,’ Jaap Stam said.