Arsenal scout 'next Luka Modric' at Feyenoord

Stuart Telford

• 7 Apr 2023 10:05 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal want to strengthen their squad with Feyenoord youngster Orkun Kokcu, who has drawn comparisons with Luka Modric, according to reports.

The 22-year-old midfielder has starred for Feyenoord this season, helping the Rotterdam club to the top of the Eredivisie, eight points clear of Ajax and PSV Eindhoven.

Scouts from Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Southampton have all sent scouts to the De Kuip stadium this season to watch the midfielder's exploits.

READ: Orkun Kokcu's FootballTransfers profile

Kokcu's contract in Rotterdam runs until 30 June 2025 but it seems unlikely that he will stay until that point. Kokcu had previously said that he thinks the Premier League is 'a great competition'. His Estimated Transfer Value is €22.9 million.

Arsenal previously scouted Kokcu in 2020, but baulked at Feyenoord's €26m asking price for a player who was still only 19 at the time.

Kokcu, who has 22 caps and two goals for Turkey having been born in Haarlem, has been more prolific to Feyenoord this term. He has 12 goals and three assists from his 37 games.

READ: 'Next Bukayo Saka' identified by Jack Wilshere

Modric comparison

Former Liverpool and Juventus midfielder Momo Sissoko compared him to Modric last year. "He has the same qualities in terms of play. He has the potential to reach his level," he told Italian media.

According to data from FootballTransfers' official partner SciSports, Kokcu would be well-suited to the Premier League, although Arsenal is not necessarily his best destination.

Fulham is the club that best suits his play, with the Cottagers playing a similar formation to Feyenoord. The two-footed midfielder could comfortably replace Harrison Reed there, while Newcastle and West Ham are also deemed to fit his style.

Kokcu tends to line up on the left of Feyenoord's double pivot - a position Granit Xhaka used to occupy at Arsenal before Mikel Arteta switched to a 4-3-3 in November.