Aheed Abrar
Orkun Kokcu to join Benfica from Feyenoord amidst Manchester United interest
Feyenoord captain Orkun Kokcu is set to join Benfica in the upcoming transfer window amidst interest from Manchester United, according to De Telegraaf (h/t Mirror).
The Red Devils had enquired about the Turkey international. Erik ten Hag is an admirer of the 22-year-old’s aggressive style of play. However, it looks like the Old Trafford side will miss out on him for now.
This summer, United will look to add a new midfielder to their ranks. However, Kokcu is expected to sign for the Portuguese champions, with a €30 million fee plus add-ons already agreed with the Rotterdam-based club.
Kokcu made his way through the youth ranks at Feyenoord. Over the last few years, the Turkish national has slowly developed and made his way into the Eredivisie outfit’s first-team setup.
Since last season, the midfielder has been ever-present in the Rotterdam-based club’s starting lineup. But in the current campaign, the 22-year-old shone as Arne Slot’s team became league champions.
Feyenoord have been impressive in the Eredivisie for some time now. Kokcu was a key player in their title run, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 46 appearances in all competitions.
United’s engine room could evidently do with more quality in depth. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen have been pivotal to Ten Hag’s plans. Unfortunately, while the Brazilian has been influential, the Danish national has often struggled to complete the 90 minutes.
On the bench, the likes of Fred and Scott McTominay have left a lot to be desired at times as well. Marcel Sabitzer put in a decent shift after coming on loan in January. But the Austrian will return to Bayern Munich soon.
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Kokcu is not the finished article yet. Therefore, it remains to be seen how the midfielder will perform at Benfica. If the Turkish national continues to get better, will the Red Devils pursue his signature? Only time will tell.
