Liverpool wants to sign Atalanta star Teun Koopmeiner who is a former pupil of their next head coach Arne Slot
Atalanta star Teun Koopmeiners could reunite with his former and next Liverpool head coach Arne Slot during the summer window. Koopmeiners played a pivotal role for Atalanta when they beat Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the Europa League quarter-finals at Anfield.
Atalanta registered a 0-3 victory over the Reds which eventually helped them secure the whole tie and reach the semi-finals. Koopmeiners displayed his impressive form that has flourished in Atalanta’s attacking style of play during the course of this season.
Standing at 1.84 metres, the 26-year-old possesses the physique and strength to hold his own against any powerful opponent. The Dutch international has the athleticism and stamina to cover huge distances with pace in and out of possession.
Koopmeiners played under Slot at AZ Alkmaar and before this season, he played mostly as a defensive midfielder. The 26-year-old has the versatility to play as a central midfielder and also as a centre-back if required by his team.
However, this season Koopmeiners thrived in the attacking midfield role, playing just behind the two forwards in a 3-4-1-2 formation. The 26-year-old has used his positioning and reading of the game to press opponent playmakers into making mistakes.
He has the off-the-ball movement and technique to find spaces between the midfield and the defence, causing problems. The Dutchman has made 43 appearances in all competitions for Atalanta, scoring 14 goals and providing five assists this season.
According to Italian publication Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Mirror), Liverpool are ready to battle Juventus for the signature of Koopmeiners this summer. The report values the 26-year-old at around 60 million euros and this price is justified, based on his form.
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Liverpool have selected Slot as the successor for Klopp and they will make transfer decisions according to the tactical requirement of their new head coach. Koopmeiners thrived under Slot at AZ but he has developed further at Atalanta which bodes well if Liverpool desires to sign him.
