Liverpool have reportedly received a major boost in their pursuit of summer target Teun Koopmeiners after Atalanta BC announced their asking price for his signature.
The 26-year-old midfielder rose through the ranks at Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar and earned a spot in their first team in the summer of 2017.
After spending four impressive seasons with the Dutch outfit, he made the transition to Serie A club Atalanta. Since joining the Italian side, the attacking midfielder has consistently improved and is now on the radar of some of Europe's biggest teams.
Koopmeiners has established himself as a first-team regular under Gian Piero Gasperini. In 47 matches across all competitions this season, the midfielder has contributed towards 22 goals, scoring 15 and setting up seven.
Leading up to the summer transfer window, Koopmeiners has been linked with a possible move to Liverpool or Juventus. However, according to Tuttosport, Atalanta's asking price for their talented midfielder has put the Reds in pole position to secure his signature ahead of I Bianconeri.
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Atalanta set £51m asking price for Teun Koopmeiners
La Dea are believed to have placed a £51m valuation on the 26-year-old, which would make it very difficult for Juventus to get a deal done considering the club's financial constraints.
Liverpool are gearing up for a new era under Arne Slot, who appears set to succeed Jurgen Klopp, and the Reds are expected to support the new manager in the upcoming summer transfer window.
It is for this reason that Koopmeiners has likely been linked with a move to Anfield, having previously worked with Slot during his time at AZ Alkmaar.
Liverpool made several significant signings in midfield this season, including bringing in Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai. It is understood, though, that Koopmeiners has been identified as a potential target for the Reds due to his versatility.
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Koopmeiners to bolster Liverpool midfield in 2024-25
While most of his appearances have been as an attacking midfielder, Koopmeiners has also been deployed in central midfield, as a defensive midfielder, and even on the right-wing at different points this season.
In addition, Liverpool may be forced to bring in new blood in the summer with Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip set to depart Anfield at the end of the campaign while Mohamed Salah's future is still uncertain.
Aside from midfield, Liverpool are also believed to be in the market for a new goalkeeper and have been linked with a possible move for Southampton shot-stopper Alex McCarthy, who has also been on the radar of Celtic and Newcastle United.
The Reds will play their final game of the Klopp era this weekend when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Devesh Jaganath
