AS Roma are stepping up their interest in Arsenal-linked Orkun Kokcu, with the Gunners’ hopes of signing him now reportedly in the balance.

The Daily Mail report that AS Roma have accelerated their interest in Feyenoord’s Orkun Kokcu, and fellow Serie A side AC Milan, as well as Ligue 1’s Lyon, are further clubs after the midfielder.

The Mail suggest this would be a blow to Arsenal, who have reportedly been keen on Kokcu for the last 12 months and held talks with him over video call.

To recap the situation, Arsenal were heavily linked with Kokcu in the summer of 2020, before current club Feyenoord announced that they were extending his contract to 2025.

The 20-year-old then had a difficult season at first, with a November red card and a December injury heavily limiting his minutes.

When Kokcu finally returned to the Eredivisie action in February, he impressed and made the league Team of the Month for February, March, and May, before being called up to the Turkey Euro 2020 squad.

There was also a report in May that Kokcu could cost less than he might have last summer, due to Feyenoord’s financial difficulties.

But to suggest that missing out on Kokcu would be a big blow to Arsenal’s transfer plans is a bit of a stretch. The Daily Mail are currently the only outlet linking the Gunners with a move in the first place, so they’re only shooting down their own link.