Manchester United Eyeing Move for Feyenoord Midfielder Orkun Kokcu

As per reports in The Netherlands, Manchester United are eyeing a move for Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu in the upcoming summer transfer window. Manager Erik ten Hag has prioritised signing a central midfielder, with Jude Bellingham being the primary target, but the Turkish midfielder has also emerged as a viable option.

The Erik ten Hag era started off when United signed Tyrell Malacia from the Dutch club. After almost a year, the Red Devils are looking at another Feyenoord player who could bring a lot of positives to this side. The recent results have suggested that there is still a long way to go for the English side.

Besides Manchester United, scouts from several other Premier League clubs like Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Brentford were present at the Dutch De Klassieker two weeks ago to watch the Orkun Kokcu.

The 22-year-old has scored 12 goals while also assisting 4 times in 40 appearances in all competitions this season for the Eredivisie side (stats via Transfermarkt). Ten Hag is fond of players from the Dutch league and could push the club officials to sign players from that league.

According to a Dutch outlet 1908.nl (via United In Focus), Manchester United are considering a summer move for Orkun Kokcu and are keeping their tabs open on the player. The Red Devils have felt the need to sign more midfielders when they were without Casemiro and Christian Eriksen due to suspension and injury respectively.

To challenge for silverware next season, the Dutch manager will need capable backup options to tackle such problems effectively. The specialised Feyenoord news outlet had also claimed last summer that the Turkish international could be an alternative to Jude Bellingham.

🚨 NEW:

Manchester United, Tottenham, Brighton, Leicester, West Ham and Brentford all had scouts at the Feyenoord vs Ajax game to watch Feyenoord duo Orkun Kokcu and Santiago Gimenez. #MUFC @MullockSMirror ✅ pic.twitter.com/gPImNdykSp

— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) April 8, 2023

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund have also scouted the 22-year-old in case Bellingham departs in the upcoming summer transfer window. The English international has been a long favourite of Manchester United. The club may try to sign the English midfielder once more, although Kokcu could be a more feasible option.

The arrival of Casemiro has lifted Manchester United and they have rarely suffered a loss when the Brazilian has played. Despite signing on a free transfer, Christian Eriksen has been a mega signing for the club. Other than that, United only have the quality option of Marcel Sabitzer, since Scott McTominay and Fred are not as reliable as the other three.

Will Orkun Kokcu Provide a Better Deal to Manchester United if They Sign Him Instead of Jude Bellingham?

Orkun Kokcu has become a box-to-box midfielder since he can play a diverse range of passes when in different situations of the game. But he can also sit deep, orchestrate the attack or even make late runs into the box. Moreover, he was also deployed as an attacking midfielder and also out on the left in his earlier seasons at the club.

On the other hand, Jude Bellingham is one of the best midfielders when it comes to taking up good positions in the field and breaking the opposition press. He was an instrumental part of the England national team at the 2022 World Cup. The Red Devils were close to signing the Englishman from Birmingham City but failed as Dortmund came in to swoop up the 19-year-old.

Bellingham’s best attribute is carrying the ball and dealing with the opposition press. However, the Feyenoord captain also has attributes that make him special. He has excellent shooting skills and also likes to take set-pieces. The Turkey international is also capable of carrying the ball, thanks to his decent dribbling skills.

Moreover, the 22-year-old’s outstanding passing ability also makes him an excellent option as an attacking midfielder. Similar to Marcel Sabitzer, he can play both as a box-to-box and also as an attacking midfielder. The Red Devils can sign Kokcu as an attacking midfielder to give Bruno Fernandes some cover.

However, Ten Hag is a fan of Bellingham and it looks difficult for Manchester United to settle for Orkun Kokcu, especially when the English midfielder is available. It will be better for the club if they just go and sign both of them. Another alternative could be to keep Sabitzer and anyone of McTominay or Fred, and sign the Dortmund star.

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