Who is the Atalanta star wanted by Juventus and Liverpool?

Even as Atalanta’s incredible 2023/24 season unfolded, reports began to circulate that the Italian side’s key players would be leaving this summer. They would go on to win the UEFA Europa League – the club’s first trophy since 1963 – while finishing fourth in Serie A and qualifying for the Champions League.

That hasn’t stopped stories from suggesting possible destinations for their stars, with Teun Koopmeiners among those regularly linked with a move away from Atalanta.

But the Italian club are extremely well run and their recent success has put them on solid financial footing, allowing them to turn down all but the most lucrative offers.

Which clubs are interested in Teun Koopmeiners?

“Koopmeiners is a key player for Atalanta, his sale was never part of our plans,” CEO Luca Percassi told reporters last month. He had been asked about a possible exit for the Dutch midfielder, who has been linked with Chelsea, Juventus, Liverpool and Manchester United.

But while two of those clubs appear to have lost interest, the connections between Juventus and Liverpool appear to have strengthened, and a move for the player seems to make sense for both.

Koopmeiners’ success in Serie A, combined with Juve’s need to give new coach Thiago Motta the players he needs to make his progressive tactical approach – read more about that here – successful, makes the midfielder an ideal target.

Meanwhile, the logic behind the Liverpool connection stems from Koopmeiner’s time at AZ Alkmaar, where he played 52 games under manager Arne Slot, who has since been named as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Anfield.

Why Teun Koopmeiners is the number one target

Koopmeiners left AZ in the summer of 2021, with Atalanta paying €12 million ($13.13 million) to sign him and quickly seeing him become a regular under Gian Piero Gasperini.

After his game improved immensely in his first two seasons, he signed a new contract with the Bergamo side, a deal that expires on June 30, 2027.

Without a doubt, his best quality is driving the ball forward from midfield. FBRef.com estimates his 2.87 progressive runs per 90 minutes to be in the 92nd percentile among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.

His passing is also underrated, consistently picking the right option to help keep Atalanta’s attacking play flowing. According to FBRef, Koopmeiners’ 48.8 passes per 90 ranks in the 82nd percentile for players in his position, while his 3.98 shot-creating actions rank in the 90th percentile.

This saw him rack up eight assists across all competitions, but it was his own scoring that stood out most, netting 15 goals in total and finishing the season as Serie A’s top-scoring midfielder, despite not being his team’s penalty taker.

He also struggles defensively, with the same source showing that Koopmeiners recorded 1.52 tackles, 1.22 blocks and 1.19 clearances per 90 minutes in the 2023/24 season.

The latest on Koopmeiners’ transfer situation

There have been two major developments this week, the first of which saw him miss training on Wednesday – first reported by Alfredo Pedulla – as he tried to force Atalanta into negotiations.

However, the biggest news came later that day, with Gasperini giving an interview to the local newspaper. The Echo of Bergamo. “The situation with him was going very well until last week, then the player decided to go to Juventus,” the Atalanta boss said. “He already has an agreement, he is stressed and has decided not to play or train with us anymore.

“With this attitude he cannot be useful to the team, nor to his teammates. The club, therefore, has taken a very firm line, because we feel blackmailed by this situation,” Gasperini continued.

“It is different from the other times when Atalanta sold valuable players to bigger teams. “I am already ready (for the new season), in the starting blocks, and I would not like to have to drag those who are still celebrating last season. We are now in a much more difficult situation than we could have anticipated.”

There is likely to be news soon as Atalanta and Teun Koopmeiners look set to part ways.