Serie A boss rubbishes exit talks concerning Liverpool linked superstar

Atalanta chief Luca Percassi has poured cold water on speculation linking Teun Koopmeiners with Liverpool

Teun Koopmeiners is enjoying a remarkable season at Atalanta, having netted ten goals and provided three assists in Serie A, making him one of the most sought-after players in Italian football. His impressive performances have attracted interest from major clubs like Liverpool and Juventus.

In Europe’s top five leagues, the 26-year-old midfielder is part of an exclusive group of just two players to have reached double figures from midfield over the past two seasons, alongside Manchester City’s Phil Foden.

Juventus has established strong links with Koopmeiners, particularly after his standout display at the Allianz Stadium before the international break, where he scored twice in a 2-2 draw, convincing the Turin giants of his quality.

Liverpool have also been tracking Koopmeiners for some time and could rival Juventus for the Netherlands international in the upcoming summer transfer window, with the club keen to bolster their midfield options ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

In a recent interview with the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, he addressed the interest from clubs and revealed Atalanta is aware he wants to move on in the summer. He said:

“I would be lying if I said I didn’t hear the news about the interest from Juventus and Premier League clubs have shown to me.”

Atalanta boss’ verdict on the star’s move

According to the Metro, Atalanta director Percassi has now spoken in, dismissing suggestions that Koopmeiners may be on the move and refuting the Dutchman’s claim that he had requested to be sold. He said:

“Koopmeiners has not been sold to Juventus, nor anyone else. In fact, he never asked us to be sold. This club is solid and does not need to sell.”

The Atalanta boss would naturally refute any claims of Koopmeiners leaving, as losing such a pivotal player would be undesirable for the squad. Koopmeiners has contributed significantly, registering 12 goals and four assists in 34 appearances across all competitions this season.

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An offer in the region of £50 million would be deemed sufficient to secure the departure of the Dutch international. The midfielder is aware of the interest from several clubs and intends to await a suitable offer. Whether the Reds need to splash out the cash given the rise of players like James McConnell, Harvey Elliott and Bobby Clark remains to be seen.