Liverpool boast a talented squad capable of steering Arne Slot toward success. Nevertheless, it is evident that reinforcements are essential this summer.
Respected sources, including The Athletic’s David Ornstein, have reported that FSG aims to acquire a central defender and a wide forward. These additions are seen as crucial for Liverpool to close the gap on Manchester City and Arsenal. Recent developments, however, indicate that further work on the midfield might be necessary in the upcoming months.
Jurgen Klopp addressed last summer’s midfield departures with significant changes. Now, with Thiago Alcantara leaving at the end of his contract, there may be an opportunity to bring another star into the midfield.
Liverpool Now Frontrunners for Former Slot Star
According to Calciomercato, Liverpool are at the forefront in the pursuit of Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners. Chelsea and Juventus are also vying for the Dutch midfielder, who has been priced at €60m (£52m) by the newly-crowned Europa League champions.
Koopmeiners, 25, has been instrumental in Piero Gian Gasperini’s squad this season. Recently, he has expressed a desire to move on from Atalanta, opening a potential transfer opportunity for Liverpool under their new manager, Slot.
Liverpool’s head coach has previously collaborated with Koopmeiners during his tenure at AZ Alkmaar. Koopmeiners made 58 appearances under his management, indicating a strong potential fit for Liverpool’s midfield needs.
One of Koopmeiners’ most notable performances was in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
He received an 8/10 match rating from 90min for his relentless efforts, underscoring his value and skill on the field. “Picked up some dangerous positions deep in Leverkusen territory and produced some incisive passes to open up their defence.”
Koopmeiners didn’t perform at his peak, winning only four of 12 contested duels and failing to make a key pass, according to Sofascore. Nonetheless, he put up a commendable effort to subdue Xabi Alonso’s formidable Bundesliga champions.
It’s worth noting that just a month earlier, Koopmeiners delivered an outstanding two-legged performance to eliminate Liverpool from the continental competition, winning 12 duels and making seven tackles across the two matches.
Praised for his “complete” skill set by Dutch legend Ruud Krol, the 6-foot-1 talent has showcased remarkable skills this season.
He has scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions. His creative, tenacious, and robust style has earned him comparisons to Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.
| Teun Koopmeiners: Similar Players | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1. | Aleksandr Golovin | AS Monaco |
| 2. | Florian Sotoca | Lens |
| 3. | Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United |
| 4. | Angelo Fulgini | Lens |
| 5. | Morgan Gibbs-White | Nottingham Forest |
| Sourced via FBref | ||
Teun Koopmeiners is a dynamic midfielder who stands out among his peers in Europe’s top five leagues. According to FBref, over the past year, he ranks in the top 20% for goals scored, top 19% for passes attempted, top 13% for progressive passes, and top 5% for clearances per 90 minutes.
Comparatively, the Red Devils’ captain Bruno Fernandes ranks highly among attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues.
Over the past year, he is in the top 6% for shot-creating actions, top 4% for passes attempted, top 2% for progressive passes and clearances, and top 13% for tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes.
Despite Erik ten Hag’s team struggling this season, Fernandes has remained a vital player, leading the Premier League in chances created. Adding a player of Koopmeiners’ quality and commitment would significantly bolster the team’s prospects.
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