Feyenoord captain Orkun Kokcu has been urged to reject transfer interest from Manchester United this summer by former Red Devils transfer target Wesley Sneijder.
The 22-year-old midfielder is being chased by six Premier League clubs and the player’s father has fielded numerous enquiries for the Rotterdam club’s star man. He captained Feyenoord to an impressive Eredivisie title this campaign, ahead of long-term rivals Ajax and PSV Eindhoven.
Kokcu, of Turkish and Azerbaijani descent, progressed through Feyenoord’s youth system and has accumulated 173 appearances for the club. He was named captain this season and has been a star of the side, netting 12 goals despite often being deployed in a deep-lying midfield role.
United boss Erik ten Hag knows him well from his days coaching Ajax and Kokcu ticks all the boxes with his excellent technique and an aggressive style of play that takes him box-to-box. His all-action style helps explain his high goal involvement despite not always being at the top end of the pitch.
Rotterdam-based publication 1908 has renewed links of United’s interest in Kokcu, despite the fact that the club are prioritising moves for a new goalkeeper and striker this summer. Yet Ten Hag is insistent on strengthening all areas of his squad.
However, former Dutch midfield ace Sneijder has urged Kokcu to reject any move to Old Trafford. “He did a great job. He played a fantastic season,” Sneijder told Veronica Inside, as cited by United in Focus, when asked about the player. “But I doubt that he can compete at the top of Europe. Where should a boy like that go?
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“I would say stay another year. Enjoy it. If you’re really good, that option will come naturally. Maybe he can reach the top of European football. If he is a starter player for three or four years and he carries that team, then that is possible.”
Sneijder added: “If you go to a mid-ranking team and opt for the money, there is a chance that you will never play in the Champions League. I would say stay at Feyenoord.”
Sneijder, who pulled the curtains on his 17-year senior career in 2019, was often-linked with a move to Old Trafford in what became a long-running theme. Sir Alex Ferguson has subsequently rejected any suggestion he ever wanted to sign the playmaker whilst in the Old Trafford hotseat.
"That's come up a lot of times but we were never interested in Sneijder," Ferguson responded when asked about players who were heavily linked with a switch but never transferred. "I don't know where that came from but you get a lot of them."
Sneijder was then linked with a move to United under Louis van Gaal, who had previously coached him at international level with the Netherlands. "Louis is one of the most intelligent men in football – and I knew of Manchester United's interest in the summer," Sneijder said in 2014. "It was flattering – but I am very happy in Turkey (with Galatasaray) – and it is very hard to leave Champions League football."
