A £50 million-rated midfielder has reportedly informed his club about who he wants to join this summer, between Liverpool and Serie A leaders Juventus.
The Reds are now in a new universe under Arne Slot, who took over at Anfield this summer after Jurgen Klopp left at the end of last season, and the former Feyenoord coach has already made an impression.
Expectations are high for Slot to deliver in the new season, with Liverpool finishing third in Klopp’s final year at the club, and transfers a top priority if the Merseyside giants are to compete with Arsenal and Manchester City.
However, Liverpool appears to have already suffered one market hit.
Teun Koopmeiners wants a move to Juventus despite Liverpool’s interest.
According to Tutto Juve, Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners has told the Bergamo club that he only wants to move for Juventus, despite Liverpool’s significant interest in the £50 million-rated star.
Koopmeiners, once hailed as ‘world-class’, was instrumental for Atalanta in their extraordinary run to the UEFA Europa League, which saw the Serie A side defeat Liverpool convincingly and inflict Bayer Leverkusen their only defeat of the season in the final.
With interest in the Dutch international at an all-time high, a move to the Premier League would have been ideal for Koopmeiners, who, under Slot, could have elevated his game to new heights on Merseyside.
However, it appears like Juventus will win the competition for the midfielder, with Koopmeiners preferring to join the Bianconeri over Anfield or Liverpool this summer.
The Reds missing out on Koopmeiners will come as a significant blow.
Koopmeiners has been one of Serie A’s top midfielders for several years, with the Dutch international playing a crucial role in Atalanta’s spectacular ascent and subsequent European wins.
And for Liverpool, missing out on Koopmeiners will be a major disappointment, especially given how ideal the midfielder would have been for Slot and the club’s new era.
Indeed, Koopmeiner’s decision to join Juventus over Liverpool is not surprising given the intriguing additions the Turin giants are making this summer, but the Reds’ failure to sign the Netherlands star will be considered as a major setback by club officials.
