It seems Mesut Ozil’s days at Arsenal are numbered amid reports (as cited by Takvim) of a potential transfer to Fenerbahce in January. The Turkish heavyweights are willing to loan in the German sensation, and the Gunners have even agreed to pay a portion of his £350,000-a-week wages – an amount that made him the club’s highest earner back in February 2018.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are in the market to explore his successor and according to the Daily Mail, the Gunners are keeping close tabs on Feyenoord wonderkid Orkun Kökçü. The 18-year-old midfield sensation fired in three goals and registered four assists last season in the Eredivisie.
He has earned a regular status this term under Jaap Stam with 13 senior appearances already (stats via Transfermarket). He has found the net twice so far in all competitions and is exhibiting enormous quality as well as excellence while operating as a ‘number 10’.
Having progressed through the youth ranks of FC Groningen initially, Kökçü enjoyed a rapid rise since joining the Rotterdam giants. Despite being in his teenage years, the youngster is gradually gaining a key status in Dutch football and therefore, has grabbed the attention of an array of European heavyweights over a potential high-profile transfer.
What He Would Bring In At The Emirates
The former Netherlands youth international intended to play for Turkey in July and represented their U21 side in a 3-2 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification defeat against the England U21s a couple of months later. But he exhibited his technical traits, vision and game-reading trait alongside the ability to orchestrate the show from the ‘hole’.
The youngster has depicted his maturity by dropping in a deeper midfield slot to help out his teammates under pressure. He loves to carry the ball forward and has been productive from set-pieces as well. His all-round display would add more creativity in the middle of the park as he holds all the attributes of a modern-day midfield attacker.
Why Arsenal Should Rope Him In
Kökçü, currently under contract until summer 2023, is valued at around £20m. The asking fee might not be minuscule, but the Gunners should gamble it on the prodigy who is touted to be one of the next-gen superstars of European football.
Unai Emery prefers to promote the youth and has done the same at the Emirates having relied upon the likes of Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka and Joe Willock. A move to North London would be instrumental for his development and Arsenal, too, should explore the opportunity before the other suitors jump in.
