Aston Villa

Aston Villa

Premier League • England

Aston Villa transfers: Unai Emery orchestrates stunning double deal to deny Arsenal, Man Utd

Santiago Gimenez and Orkun Kokcu

Aston Villa have become the favourites to sign Arsenal-linked Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu this summer, according to a report.

With European qualification becoming a realistic target for Aston Villa this season, they will be making major plans for the upcoming transfer window. And according to the Daily Mirror, one of their objectives is Feyenoord captain Kokcu.

The Turkey international looks set to be holding the Eredivisie trophy aloft at the end of the season. After that, he could earn a transfer to the Premier League.

Arsenal have already been linked, while there have been suggestions that Liverpool should be in for Kokcu. Per the Mirror, he actually has up to six suitors in the English top flight.

And chief among them are Aston Villa, whose ‘offer’ is said to be ‘under strong consideration’. It appears the offer in question is to the player himself regarding personal terms, rather than a bid to his club yet.

Villa’s progress under Unai Emery has supposedly caught Kokcu’s attention. After his side were knocked out in the Europa League quarter-finals this season by Roma, he wants to be in European football again next season.

Of course, Feyenoord themselves should be in the Champions League at this rate. But after setting an asking price of £40million for Kokcu, the Eredivisie leaders might not be able to keep him.

Clubs in Italy, Spain and Portugal are also eyeing Kokcu. But Villa – whose scouts have given good feedback about him – appear to be among the prime contenders.

Aston Villa eye Feyenoord striker as well

Interestingly, Kokcu is not the only Feyenoord player wanted at Villa Park. Club scouts are also encouraging a pursuit of striker Santiago Gimenez.

Recently linked with Man Utd, and said to be of interest to Atletico and Real Madrid by the report, Gimenez only joined Feyenoord last summer but has coped admirably with the step into European football.

According to the Mirror, Emery could again be influential to Villa’s hopes of adding Gimenez to their attack.

Ollie Watkins has been in sensational form in front of goal recently. But Villa might find extra competition up front useful after selling Danny Ings to West Ham in January.

Mexico international Gimenez, who is 22 years old, is under contract in Rotterdam until 2026. He has scored 12 goals in 28 Eredivisie appearances this season.

Kokcu, meanwhile, has played in the same number of league games for Feyenoord in 2022-23, scoring eight goals. His contract there is due to expire a year sooner than Gimenez’s, although his employers are trying to renew his terms.

They will be bracing themselves for serious attempts by clubs like Aston Villa to prise him and some of their other key performers away, though.

READ MOREEmery steers Aston Villa ahead of Newcastle, West Ham in race for rebellious midfielder