Feyenoord finally have an agreement in principle with Orkun Kokcu over a contract extension to 2025, after links to Arsenal.

Feyenoord confirmed on Friday that they have an agreement in principle with Orkun Kokcu over a contract extension to 2025. His previous deal ran until 2023, but he’ll sign the new deal soon.

It’s a quick turnaround from Kokcu’s recent quotes in the media that he’d received two dissatisfactory offers from Feyenoord and wasn’t sure if they even wanted him to stay. Clearly their third offer was much more convincing.

Recent reports linked Arsenal with a move for the 19-year-old. Goal’s Charles Watts confirmed the club ‘really like’ the midfielder. However, it’s pretty much impossible they sign him now, unless the contract contains a very low release clause.

It’s hard to say whether Kokcu was planning to stay all along. Perhaps he was, and the Arsenal links were just agent talk to get a better offer.

Maybe he considered a move to North London but changed his mind when he got a pay-rise (and Arsenal returned to action poorly). Regardless, it seems reports from Turkey suggesting Arsenal were already close to a €25m move were wide of the mark.