Reporter convinced £30m star could follow Arne Slot to Tottenham Hotspur
Feyenoord captain Orkun Kokcu could follow Arne Slot to Tottenham Hotspur if the Eredivisie-winning manager takes over from Antonio Conte at the Premier League outfit.
At least, that is the opinion of Valentijn Driessen; a highly-experienced Dutch football reporter with a detailed knowledge of all things Feyenoord.
Arne Slot, on an emotional, tear-soaked Sunday, guided the Rotterdam giants to their first Eredivisie title since 2017. And their second since the Millenium Bug was an ongoing concern over 20 years ago.
And Slot’s success in getting Feyenoord over the line – eight points clear of PSV with two games left – should only increase the interest of a Tottenham side living almost permanently in their bridesmaid’s dress.
Tottenham Hotspur like Feyenoord boss Arne Slot
According to The Telegraph, the former AZ Alkmaar boss is one of Spurs’ top targets. He may be rocketing up the pecking order too, with Julian Nagelsmann going the same way as Vincent Kompany and Xabi Alonso.
And Driessen, speaking to the Kick Off Podcast, believes that Slot is unlikely heading to North London on his own, should he shake hands with Daniel Levy in time for the summer.
“Kokcu is going with Arne Slot,” Driessen argues. “One plus one makes two. If a very big club becomes available for Slot, I can’t imagine that he won’t want Kokcu.
“If he goes to Tottenham Hotspur, he will try to take Kokcu with him.”
Driessen points out that Erik ten Hag, who guided Ajax to the Eredivisie title 12 months ago, ‘did the same’, bringing Antony and Lisandro Martinez with him to Old Trafford. Kokcu, meanwhile, is not only Feyenoord’s captain but Slot’s on-pitch representative. The man who epitomises his domineering, possession-based, free-flowing style.
Kokcu, valued at around £30 million, reportedly has admirers at Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester United.
“There is very great interest from Portugal. Benfica would love to have him,” adds journalist Marcel van der Kraan. “But people have also come from the Premier League, Italy and Germany to sound him out and lure him in that direction.”
