Over the past few weeks, multiple claims coming out of Italy have stated Liverpool are the main competition for Juventus to sign Atalanta star Teun Koopmeiners.
Two days ago, the midfielder revealed that he wants to leave the Serie A side and is open to making a switch to England.
On Friday, Tutto Atalanta said Liverpool have a concrete interest and could be set for early negotiations when they face La Deal in the Europa League next month.
Corriere dello Sport provide the latest on this case and it may not please the Reds.
Despite interest from Premier League sides, including Liverpool, the 26-year-old would have taken very concrete steps towards the Old Lady. The idea of joining Juve ‘attracts him in a visceral way’.
This choice is personal as it would allow him a ‘360 degree step of growth’ and collective since Juve have made him aware that his arrival would open a new cycle at the club, which is tailor made for him.
Corriere say Koopmeiners would be a great among greats at Liverpool, while a jewel at the Turin club, where an ambitious project would be built around him.
Taking this into account, he would have given his agent Bart Baving an ‘unofficial mandate to deal’ with Juve. The personal terms don’t seem to be an issue for the two parties.
He currently earns €1.5m per year at Atalanta and can see it increase to €4-4.5m plus bonuses at Juventus. The complexity lies in negotiations between the two clubs as La Dea want €60m for the Netherlands international.
According to Corriere, Juve don’t intend to use 80% of their budget on one player, despite considering the Dutchman as a key signing.
They could lower the asking price by including Matias Soulé [valued at €25m] and Dean Huijsen [valued between €10m and €15m] as part of the deal for Koopmeiners.
Soulé and Huijsen see Atalanta as a great opportunity to continue their development, and Gian Piero Gasperini is willing to work with both.
Liverpool may not have an issue paying €60m but have to convince Koopmeiners first, to stand a chance to sign him in the summer.
With Koopmeiners currently favouring Juve, the Reds have to find a way back to take lead in the transfer race.
Of course, all of this is the Italian angle so there’s a possibility of bias.
