29 April 2024 , 08:31
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Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners could become the first signing of the Arne Slot era at Liverpool - just weeks after ruining Jurgen Klopp's farewell tour.
The outgoing Anfield chief was targeting a remarkable treble before the Reds were dumped out of the Europa League by Atalanta. Koopmeiners, 26, played an influential role for the Serie A outfit as they stunned Liverpool in their own backyard to end Klopp's hopes of signing off with a European trophy.
It has since emerged that Slot, currently of Feyenoord, is in line to replace Klopp in the summer. And it now seems that he could be joined on Merseyside by Koopmeiners, who is already the subject of transfer interest both in Italy and abroad.
As first revealed by Tuttomercatoweb, the Netherlands international is a target for both Liverpool and Juventus. The Reds, however, could have the edge after making the capture of Koopmeiners one of their 'primary objectives' ahead of the summer.
The report goes on to outline that Koopmeiners is valued at around €60million (£51.3m) by Atalanta, who signed the midfielder from AZ Alkmaar back in 2021. It was there that Koopmeiners played under Slot, who earned plenty of plaudits before moving on to Feyenoord.
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Liverpool rebuilt their midfield under Klopp last summer, signing the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but continue to be linked with reinforcements in that area.
While Slot is not officially in place at Anfield, Fenway Sports Group supremo Michael Edwards, alongside Liverpool's new sporting director Richard Hughes, are already mapping out plans for next season in the transfer market.
Join the debate! Would Koopmeiners be a good signing for Liverpool? Let us know here.
Slot worked with Koopmeiners at AZ Alkmaar (NurPhoto via Getty Images)Ahead of his arrival, Slot has already been endorsed by Klopp, who told reporters last week: “I like a lot about it, if he is the one, he wants to take the job. Really. Is desperate. Come on, let’s go for it. Excited.
“I like the way his team play football. All the things I hear about him as a guy, a good guy. Some people I know know him, I don’t know him yet. Some people tell me that he is a really good guy. I like that a lot.
“Good coach, good guy. Looking forward for the club if he is the solution or the man. I’m more than happy. It’s not up to me to judge these things but it all sounds really good to me. Best job in the world, best club in the world, best job in the world.
“Obviously now I even help by not finishing on a high, it looks like. There is space for improvement. Great job, great team, fantastic people. He ‘would’ take a really, really interesting job.”
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