Manchester United and Newcastle United are allegedly interested in signing Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners during the January transfer window.
According to Tutto Atalanta, Manchester United and Newcastle United are interested in signing Atalanta playmaker Teun Koopmeiners in January for €70 million.
Koopmeiners joined Atalanta from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2021 for just €14 million and has since made 90 appearances for the club. He has 17 goals and 10 assists this season. He has appeared in 12 games for them this season, missing only one due to injury, and has three goals and two assists.
The 25-year-old has been an important player for La Dea, helping them finish fifth in Serie A last season. The club recently extended his contract until 2028, indicating that they are not in a rush to offload the Dutch maestro.
The Italian outfit would prefer wait until the summer of 2024 to make a decision on Koopmeiners’ future. They will, however, be bracing themselves in case a suitor does decide to pursue the Dutchman against their preferences.
However, the interested party would have to pay a high amount to get him out of Bergamo. Indeed, the source suggests that Atalanta are going for €60-70 million for the Dutch international after rejecting a €45 million offer from Napoli earlier this year.
Newcastle club representatives are claimed to have already begun scouting Koopmeiners, while a struggling Manchester United side is also expressing renewed interest in the Dutchman’s talents.
The Magpies, for example, spent around €70 million on Italian international Sandro Tonali during the summer transfer window and could only watch in dismay as their record summer signing was handed a 10-month ban for placing illegal bets, keeping him out of action until August 2024.
With few midfield alternatives available to Eddie Howe, Newcastle plan to bolster their squad in the January transfer window in order to remain in contention for a top-four finish.
If Newcastle can bring Koopmeiners to the Premier League, he will undoubtedly be an excellent addition to Eddie Howe’s squad. His versatility as an attacking midfielder, holding midfielder, and even a centre-back makes him a valuable asset to any team.
Not to mention his remarkable passing variety, range, and engine room agility, which might provide the Magpies with a new dimension in terms of influencing games in possession.
As for Manchester United, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, both of whom had good moments during their time at the club, particularly last season, have struggled this season, while Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat have mainly deceived.
Casemiro missed Saturday’s 1-0 win over Fulham due to injury, adding to a long list of problems for manager Erik ten Hag, and is expected to be out for several weeks. For the time being, the Red Devils must make do, but in January they will be able to work on improving their roster, making Koopmeiners a viable possibility.
Having said that, both the Glazers and the PIF may not spend much in January, so if the Red Devils or the Magpies want him on a permanent basis, the deal may happen next summer.
