Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kökçü has opened the door to a move to Leeds United in the summer, having seen Marcelo Bielsa’s side fail with a bid in January.
Kökçü was heavily linked with a move away from the Dutch club in the summer transfer window, with Arsenal and Chelsea regularly named as interested suitors.
Feyenoord managed to bat off this interest, though, securing the midfielder to a new deal that ties him to the club until 2025.
That did not stop rumours about a potential exit in January, with Leicester named as one of the clubs to have knocked on the door at Feyenoord and tried to secure a deal.
Leeds United can now be added to that list, with Voetbal International backing up the claims about Leicester but adding Bielsa and co to the mix, stating that the player was ‘able to go to’ either club ‘on a rental basis’.
That is something Kökçü is aware of but, when asked if it was a serious option for him, he insisted a move was not on the cards.
“No, because I was not fit, and Feyenoord did not want to cooperate,” he said.
“Then you’re done quickly.
“I thought it was a good sign that clubs like that were still following me, despite my injury and the fact that I hadn’t played much.”
While he was delighted to extend his contract in the summer and Feyenoord were determined to keep him, that has changed ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
Like many clubs around Europe, Feyenoord could do with the money from a sale after seeing their finances hit by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Kökçü is one player in the squad they could make money from, particularly given the interest in the Premier League from the likes of Leeds, and he has opened the door to a deal.
“I still have a contract until 2025, but the situation has changed,” he added.
“Feyenoord have been very open about the financial situation, and it is clear that the club is ending up in the minus.
“If a club comes to me with a good story and Feyenoord can make money from it, I can imagine that I will listen to it.”
