According to La Razon, Leeds United are among clubs interested in Orkun Kokcu. The Feyenoord midfielder will be available in the upcoming summer transfer window, which has put a host of clubs across Europe, including Sevilla on red alert. Kokcu will be available for a fee of only around €12 million, owing to Feyenoord’s financial difficulties amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Orkun Kokcu: Player Profile
A central midfielder by trade, Kokcu had raised a lot of eyebrows with his breakthrough at Feyenoord last season, attracting the interest of a host of top clubs across Europe. However, he ended up remaining in the Netherlands, even signing a contract extension until 2025.
Although Kokcu’s 2020/21 campaign in the Eredivisie has been somewhat marred by injuries, he has still remained one of Feyenoord’s most important players. His ability to act as a ball-carrier in half-spaces is one of his biggest strengths, with the midfielder being gifted with quick feet that enable him to evade the second line of press.
The Turkish international is blessed with other technical aspects of the game as well, including his passing and ability to find spaces in the middle of the park. Being a box to box midfielder, Kokcu can also drop deep if necessary, offering defensive support for his teammate.
In a way, he can be compared to Borussia Dortmund star Mahmoud Dahoud, except the 20-year-old has more room to grow and perhaps has a higher ceiling in terms of potential.
Is Kokcu A Good Option For Leeds United?
Leeds United could certainly welcome the arrival of a couple of midfielders in the summer, as their struggles without key players like Kalvin Phillips and Mateusz Klich has been quite evident in the ongoing campaign.
Phillips, in particular, needs a reliable alternative, who can not only add depth to the side but can also compete with Klich for a place in the first-team. Kokcu, in that regard, appears to be an ideal option due to the variety he offers in the middle of the park.
As mentioned earlier, the Feyenoord starlet can venture forward, finding gaps and utilising them whenever possible. He is also capable of finding useful passes in and around the final third while box to box traits make him a proactive operator in the middle third of the pitch.
It should ideally tune in with Marcelo Bielsa’s dynamism and rather disciplined tactical philosophy – making Kokcu a tailor-made fit for the Whites. The Turkish international is currently only 20, meaning he could further improve himself as a midfielder, while for a fee of just €12 million, he could indeed be a bargain for the Yorkshire outfit this summer.
