In a recent report, AS has revealed that Liverpool have identified AZ Alkmaar midfielder Teun Koopmeiners as a replacement for Wijnaldum if he leaves this summer. It is believed that the Reds have joined the race to land the Dutch midfield ace but could face competition from AS Roma, Inter Milan, Napoli, Sevilla and a few other clubs in pursuit of the player (via AS).
Koopmeiners’ Excellent Form At The AFAS Stadion This Season
Koopmeiners is enjoying a brilliant season in Dutch football as he has put in several mesmerizing displays as a holding midfielder for Alkmaar so far. The Castricum-born sensation has registered 17 goals and seven assists in 37 matches for Pascal Jansen’s side this term across all competitions.
The 23-year-old deserves a lot of credit for giving a good account of himself at both ends of the pitch as he is averaging 2.6 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 2.0 clearances, 1.5 shots, 1.0 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Eredivisie and the UEFA Europa League this season. Koopmeiners has also been a tidy distributor of the ball after making 83.9% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
With his current contract with Alkmaar set to run until the summer of 2023, there is no immediate pressure on the Dutch club to sell him unless they receive a fair offer for the player. Therefore, Liverpool have to move in swiftly and might have to make a sizable bid if they are serious about acquiring the services of the Dutch midfield enforcer in this off-season.
What Are The Dutch Talent’s Best Attributes?
Koopmeiners has got the strength and determination to make some crucial interceptions for his team in midfield. He is a great passer of the ball and can engineer a few promising chances for his teammates in the final third.
What makes the Dutchman such a highly regarded player in his homeland is his goal-scoring ability and leadership qualities. He is a natural leader at the centre of the park and can score goals consistently at the top level.
Is Koopmeiners A Good Choice For The Reds?
At 23, Koopmeiners is a player on the rise and could even be an upgrade over Georginio Wijnaldum who has struggled to find consistency with his performances at Merseyside this season. The Alkmaar skipper will add plenty of goals and creativity to Jurgen Klopp’s midfield and could even form a dominant defensive midfield partnership with Fabinho at Anfield in the coming seasons.
His acquisition would also free up Thiago Alcantara to play a more free-flowing role in the opposition half so that he can influence the game more often in the attacking end of the field. All in all, Koopmeiners will be a decent choice for Klopp to consider during this summer transfer window.
