Tottenham are said to be pushing for a deal to sign a midfielder who has been critical of his current club.
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Tottenham are being linked with a player who might have raised some red flags during his time with his current club. Spurs are on the lookout for new talent this summer as they look to prepare for Champions League football next term, and Thomas Frank does have needs aplenty.
One of his biggest needs lies in the midfield, with Tottenham needing more depth in the middle, especially amid concern over Yves Bissouma, his performances and his future. One player Spurs are now being linked with is Benfica midfielder Ozun Kokcu, a Netherlands-born Türkiye international.
Kokcu made his name under Arne Slot at Feyenoord before securing a move to Benfica in 2023. Though, Kokcu quickly fell out with manager Roger Schmidt. He said: “It wasn’t what I expected. From the beginning they never made me feel important. Not even for the coach.”
He added in a separate interview: “I am the type of football player who performs better for the team if given freedom. I want to give much more to the team. Just remember how I played much better in the season I was champion with Feyenoord, even in European games. Even during Ramadan, as I am experiencing now, I was playing better than at Benfica.
“Schmidt ties me too much to all kinds of defensive tasks. And that is not positive if you really want to get the most out of my qualities. I am the type of player who finds solutions in the area, who thinks very quickly and makes the team progress. Even this season, all my statistics underline that. I can do much more for Benfica and that may be where part of my frustration lies.”
The midfielder continued: “No. I can guarantee now that I never lost confidence. I went through a difficult period because of the fight for my place in the team, but at that time I looked again at the list of all the Dutch internationals who chose me as Footballer of the Year: Ruud Gullit, Wim Kieft, Bert van Marwijk, Jaap Stam, Arnold Mühren, Arie Haan, Roy Makaay, all men who won awards at the highest level. The list is huge. They saw the same as me. Moreover, I think I have proven in the last few seasons what I am worth to a team if the coach uses me the right way.”
CaughtOffside have reported that Tottenham are now pushing for a £40million deal to sign Kokcu, who is now working under Bruno Lage at Benfica. Though, according to Sports Digitale, the midfielder has told Benfica he does not plan to return for pre-season training as he seeks a move away, with a few clubs interested in his services. Though, he was involved in Benfica’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign this summer.
Spurs may need a midfielder, but they will want to tread carefully given the way Kokcu has openly criticised a club he is currently working for. Naturally, the Turkish international may well have grounds to fee the way he does, but he hasn’t gone the right way about forcing his way out of the club.
Slot praise
One boss Kokcu has praised is former Feyenoord boss Arne Slot. He said in the same interview: “ He always allowed me to use my strengths and saw that before me. I dare say that for me he is the best coach of all time. As a human being, verbally and tactically. When I played against him and heard that he was going to be our coach, I still thought: this is not going to happen… I knew how he had AZ playing and, as a young player, I didn’t think I fit the style of play he used.
“But he started working on all the finishing points of my game. In terms of football, I could always participate, but there was still a final part of my development missing. That’s why I owe him a lot.”