Liverpool have been dealt another blow as midfield target Teun Koopmeiners has confirmed that he will be remaining at Atalanta this January.
The Reds are on the hunt for midfield additions, with their current options seeing them struggle so far this season. Unable to press as effectively or control games as well as they have done in previous seasons, Jurgen Klopp’s side have looked a shadow of themselves from last season and sit a massive eight points off a Champions League spot as it stands.
And, with the Reds seemingly likely to miss out on Jude Bellingham, who prefers a Real Madrid switch according to recent reports, they have been forced to look elsewhere this January, with Dutchman Koopmeiners one of those on their radar.
However, Atalanta’s president Tony D’Amico quickly shut down any threat of a January move for his star midfielder.
“For Koopmeiners, there is nothing concrete with Liverpool”, he explained. “Their interest pleases us, but he is our player.”
What a strike! 🤯
Teun Koopmeiners with an absolute cannon to bring Atalanta level 💥 pic.twitter.com/Zm4GMCulay
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 9, 2023
Meanwhile, Koopmeiners himself has also played down the speculation, confirming his desire to remain with the Italian side for the foreseeable future.
What next for Liverpool?
Speculation continues to swirl around the future of Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, with both Chelsea and the Reds keen on prising him away from the AMEX stadium.
However, they have yet to make contact with Brighton Chief Executive Paul Barber, who has warned it will take a hefty sum to see him leave the south coast.
‘I’m pleased to say we haven’t had any [offers]. Maybe Liverpool haven’t got my email because I haven’t seen any”, he joked with CBS.
‘I’m not sure £42m will even include the boots now, maybe just the laces. But joking aside, every player’s value is ultimately determined by the market.”
Meanwhile, Football Transfers report that the Reds are keeping a keen eye on young pair Khephren Thuram (Nice) and Kouadio Kone of Borussia Monchengladbach, both of whom are very highly rated around Europe.
