Kokcu has evolved into the complete midfielder under Arne Slot. (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
2. Orkun Kökçü
There probably isn’t anybody happier about Arne Slot’s contract extension than Orkun Kokcu. The once luxurious creator has evolved into the complete midfielder under Slot at Feyenoord, and the Turkish international has recently been linked with a move to the Emirates.
While the links are tenuous at this stage, a move for Kokcu would make a lot of sense.
The Feyenoord skipper blossomed as Slot guided the Rotterdamers to the Eredivisie title this season. Kokcu’s role was all-encompassing both with and without the ball. He notched the most progressive passes in the division and emerged as one of the hardest workers out of possession. Only Vaclav Cerny won possession back more than Kokcu in the final third in the Dutch top flight this season, as the Turkish international often led a fierce Feyenoord press.
Kokcu’s maturation and evolution should see him garner plenty of interest from Europe’s top five leagues this summer. Some might argue that Arsenal already have a similar player in Fabio Vieira, but Kokcu appears to have the minerals to succeed in the Premier League.
Continued on the next slide…
most progressive passes in the division</a> and emerged as one of the hardest workers out of possession. Only Vaclav Cerny won possession back more than Kokcu in the final third in the Dutch top flight this season, as the Turkish international often led a fierce Feyenoord press.</p>
<p>Kokcu’s maturation and evolution should see him garner plenty of interest from Europe’s top five leagues this summer. Some might argue that Arsenal already have a similar player in Fabio Vieira, but Kokcu appears to have the minerals to succeed in the Premier League.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/09/4-alternate-midfield-targets-arsenal-summer/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 alternate midfield option </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-134952" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/09/4-alternate-midfield-targets-arsenal-summer/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1494240041-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1494240041-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1494240041-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1494240041-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1494240041-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Maddison will be available at a discounted price this summer. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3. James Maddison</h2>
<p>Leicester are ready to part ways with Maddison this summer after they inexplicably dropped down to the second tier seven years after their miracle title triumph. The Foxes’ demise is sad, and they’re bound to oversee a clearout ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.</p>
<p>Tottenham and Newcastle are said to be the frontrunners in the race for Maddison, with Arsenal not yet mentioned as a possible destination for the England international. However, given that they had an interest in Mason Mount, it’s hard to believe that Maddison, who notched an impressive 19 goal contributions in 30 league appearances, hasn’t caught the eye of Arteta.</p>
<p>The 26-year-old will be available for a discounted price, although Leicester are believed to be holding out for at least £50m.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Maddison is Premier League proven and yet to hit his prime. There’s a lot of upside from any potential deal, with the 26-year-old being a much more natural fit for Xhaka’s between-the-lines role. The England international is a marvellous creator, and he occasionally skippered Leicester this season.<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/09/4-alternate-midfield-targets-arsenal-summer/2/"https://fbref.com/en/comps/9/gca/Premier-League-Stats"> Only Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, and Bruno Fernandes registered more shot-creating actions than Maddison in 2022/23.</a></p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/09/4-alternate-midfield-targets-arsenal-summer/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #4 alternate midfield option </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-134953" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/09/4-alternate-midfield-targets-arsenal-summer/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1707,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1491695269-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1491695269-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1491695269-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1491695269-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1491695269-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Frattesi has shone for Sassuolo. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>4. Davide Frattesi</h2>
<p>This is a rogue option as some of you might not have heard of Davide Frattesi.</p>
<p>The Sassuolo midfielder impressed me at the 2021 Under-21 European Championships and he’s since broken out in Serie A, emerging as the second coming of Nicolo Barella. Frattesi doesn’t quite boast the imagination and craft of the Inter man, but his profile is nonetheless similar.</p>
<p>The Italian has primarily operated on the right of a midfield three where he loves to make penetrating surges into the half-space. He’s excellent at arriving late into the box, and he was Sassuolo’s joint-second top scorer in Serie A this season as a result, scoring seven times.</p>
<p>His Duracell bunny energy means he excels without the ball and he topped Sassuolo’s tacking charts with<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/09/4-alternate-midfield-targets-arsenal-summer/2/"https://fbref.com/en/squads/e2befd26/Sassuolo-Stats"> 63 this season</a>. Maxime Lopez’s 42 was the next highest.</p>
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<p>Overall, a move to the Premier League appears unlikely at this stage, but Frattesi is bound to move on this summer. His demonic attitude without the ball renders him a manager’s dream, and he’s an intriguing possibility for any potential suitor. Clubs wouldn’t have to break the bank to sign him either.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
