Tottenham are interested in signing Dutch youth international Orkun Kokcu from Feyenoord, but will face competition from Arsenal and Chelsea, reports The Daily Mail.
The 17-year-old ‘revelation’ has caught the eye of some of Europe’s top clubs after a phenomenal season last year for Feyenoord’s U19s in which he scored 17 goals and registered 34 assists.
The teenager has already begun to train with the Feyenoord first team, and has been called up to represent the Netherlands’ U19 squad, with widespread beliefs that he is not far off senior honours.
If Spurs do make a move for the attacking midfield prospect they will likely face a battle for his signature with several top European clubs, including their London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, and PSG.
Good move for Spurs?
In truth, moving for such an inexperienced player, no matter how precocious they may be, is always a bit risky. Time and time again the word ‘wonderkid’ is attached to players who thrive at youth level but struggle to reach their full potential in the professional game. That being said Kokcu has been exceptional for Feyenoord, and it should be noted that unlike many promising youth players, he has astronomical assist stats, as opposed to a ridiculous goalscoring ratio. This suggests that his reading of a game and selflessness is second to none, and that will always be an invaluable asset.
This is Futbol rating: 6/10
Likely to happen?
There are a number of the biggest clubs in Europe circling, and that isn’t good news for Spurs. Many young talents, especially those already based on the continent, are more likely to snub a transfer to England in favour of a move to a supergiant in mainland Europe. Despite Spurs’ stellar record on developing young players, chances are that if Kokcu moves at all, it will be to a more developed, more continental superpower. This is the unfortunate reality of Spurs’ move into the big leagues, these players are within their reach, but the competition is so much more fierce.
This is Futbol rating: 3/10