Arsenal will need to sign an extra midfielder to increase the depth in the middle of the park despite the acquisition of Fabio Vieira from FC Porto. Youri Tielemans was the Gunners’ initial target but a deal has now seemed to have collapsed.
Another midfielder the club had been linked with was Orkun Kokcu from Feyenood. According to Dutch outlet Ziggo Sport Voetbal, the Gunners are interested in signing the Turkish midfielder ahead of next season.
However, Edu must move fast if he is to complete a deal as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also reported that West Ham have registered interest in Kokcu. The Gunners will need to sign a Tielemans alternative, and Kokcu would certainly be a good option.
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The Turkey international has been linked to the club in the past, with the Daily Mail reporting Arsenal were interested in signing him for £20million in 2019. There is an extra incentive to sign him as he has close links to Robin van Persie, who Arsene Wenger signed from Feyenoord in 2004.
Kokcu played with Van Persie when the former Arsenal striker returned to his first-ever professional club for a short stint towards the end of his career. Speaking to Elf Voetball, Kokcu spoke highly of Van Persie and was specific about his Arsenal days.
He said: "In the background, he is very important for our team. I always looked up to him. Van Persie was a world-class player at Arsenal and also an international top player at Manchester United.
"Now he often gives me tips: That I should always be open, always think ahead, look around, I have to be playable and be able to help my fellow players."
Tielemans seemed to be the ideal target to improve the middle of the park for Arsenal, but this is reportedly no longer the case. Mikel Arteta's side have 'cooled' their interest in Tielemans, according to Sky Sports. The report claims that it's become increasingly likely that the Belgium international now signs a one-year contract extension at the King Power Stadium, with his current deal set to expire in 12 months.
A new midfielder will certainly be needed in the summer, and they could turn back to their five-year target in Kokcu, who the club have been monitoring since 2017, however, it would be a risky deal, as he is still pretty inexperienced at the age of 21. But if Van Persie approves of the midfielder, then it is certainly a transfer that Edu should look into in greater depth.
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