Edu identifies £50m Arsenal transfer to hand Mikel Arteta dream Granit Xhaka replacement
The potential departure of Granit Xhaka from Arsenal has created a significant divide among fans. While it demonstrates Arsenal’s commitment to progress, Xhaka played a crucial role in their pursuit of the Premier League title in the 2022/23 season, and allowing him to leave during a time when midfield depth is urgently needed raises some concerns.
However, it seems that Xhaka is the one driving the move, seeking a fresh challenge, and his next destination is expected to be Germany.
According to football.london, he is currently engaged in advanced negotiations for a £13 million transfer to Bayer Leverkusen. Xhaka himself seemed to bid farewell at the Emirates Stadium last weekend during Arsenal’s 5-0 victory over Wolves, where he scored two goals.
Now, the focus must quickly shift towards finalizing a deal for Xhaka’s replacement and negotiating terms for Arsenal to acquire Declan Rice from West Ham. Even before the news of Xhaka’s imminent departure, there was a genuine chance that Arsenal would sign two midfielders this summer, and the aspiration was for one of them to be Rice.
One potential option for Arsenal is Moises Caicedo from Brighton, but it seems highly unlikely that he will remain with the club for the 2023/24 season, as Chelsea is also interested in acquiring his services.
As for advanced midfield options, Arsenal is targeting Mason Mount, Martin Zubimendi, and Ilkay Gundogan. However, Barcelona has shown interest in Zubimendi and Gundogan, while Manchester United is currently the frontrunner to sign Mount from Chelsea.
Given Xhaka’s impressive tally of nine goals from midfield this season, his replacement must also possess a keen eye for scoring.
It appears that Arsenal’s technical director, Edu, may have identified a perfect replacement in Feyenoord’s Orkun Kokcu. Kokcu has the potential to leave the Dutch champions this summer, and for various reasons, he could be an ideal successor to Xhaka.
Kokcu’s impressive goal tally of 12 this season highlights his ability to contribute offensively, and his captaincy of Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title demonstrates his leadership qualities, which will be valuable to fill the void left by Xhaka in the Arsenal squad.
At 22 years old, he is significantly younger than Xhaka, making him an ideal signing in terms of Arteta’s preference for building a young and dynamic team.
Arsenal has shown some interest in Kokcu in previous transfer windows, and his performances in the Netherlands have also attracted attention from Benfica and Liverpool.
Two years ago, his market value was around €20 million (£17.3 million), but given his progress, he could now command a fee closer to £50 million. Inside Futbol reports that Benfica is currently leading the race to secure his signature.
Indeed, the current market conditions have led to substantial transfer fees, and acquiring Kokcu would still require a significant investment from Arsenal.
However, compared to the reported valuations of Mason Mount (£70 million) and Moises Caicedo (£80 million), Kokcu’s potential price tag seems relatively more affordable. While it remains a considerable sum, opting for Kokcu could potentially represent a more cost-effective option for Arsenal compared to other midfield targets.
Edu identifies £50m Arsenal transfer to hand Mikel Arteta dream Granit Xhaka replacement