With several midfielders set to depart Anfield this summer, it is clear that reinforcements will be a necessity for Jürgen Klopp in the upcoming transfer window. One leading Serie A star could well help to solve a couple of major issues in the Reds’ squad in one fell swoop.

As the outgoing quartet of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keïta and Arthur Melo prepare to leave Merseyside this summer, it is widely expected that fresh additions will duly follow. Following an inconsistent campaign, the mistake of not signing a permanent midfielder last summer has been laid bare and Liverpool recruitment chiefs will be desperate to avoid such mishaps this time around.

Most observers would agree that the Reds could do with new signings in the ‘number six’ and ‘number eight’ midfield roles, with the dearth of players in this area of the pitch between the prime ages of 26-31 also a major concern. With Fabinho’s form having been patchy this term, and with senior options Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcântara both turning 32 before the start of next season, it is clear that upgrades could be required in these areas this summer.

READ MORE: Liverpool learns Bruno Guimarães ‘clone’ as free transfer possible amid Newcastle reality

READ MORE: Coach reacts to Liverpool links with $58m ace as Jürgen Klopp may return for old transfer target

One such player who could well fit the bill in this regard is Teun Koopmeiners of Atalanta, who has earned rave reviews for his performances for the top-tier Italian side this term and is attracting interest from a number of Europe’s elite clubs. According to Corriere dello Sport, Liverpool is monitoring the midfielder, who is also attracting interest from Juventus, ahead of a potential summer move.

Earlier in the season, former Atalanta manager Bortolo Mutti remarked that the 25-year-old is developing into the ‘best midfielder in Serie A’, asserting in an interview with Tuttomercatoweb: “Now there are many players [at Atalanta] who make the difference like Koopmeiners, who is the best midfielder in the league. [He is] always present in every area of the pitch.”

If one looks a little closer at his numbers in Serie A this term, it becomes abundantly clear that the former Atlanta manager’s assertions are pretty on the money. There is no doubt that the Netherlands international has been highly effective for the Bergamo outfit during this campaign, having tallied up an impressive 10 goal involvements — seven goals and three assists — mainly from the base of midfield.

Teun Koopmeiners has impressed in Serie A for Atalanta this season and could be a cut-price option for Liverpool in the transfer window.

(Image: Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)

Furthermore, according to FootyStats, the 15-time international has been imperious when it comes to the creative side of the game, with the midfielder registering an average of 1.62 key passes leading to significant scoring chances per 90 minutes this season. Overall, Koopmeiners’s xA (Expected Assists) output is 0.22 per 90 minutes, which puts him above 88 percent of the players in Serie A.

Intriguingly, if one looks at the players most similar to Koopmeiners when one takes into account his performances over the past year, the likes of Inter Milan’s Nicolò Barella and Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde are listed, as per FBref. Based on this evidence, one would posit that a club will likely land a bargain if they can land the Dutchman for a price around his $33m (£26m/€30m) valuation on TransferMarkt.

If you enjoyed this piece, you’ll love our Liverpool.com newsletter — every weekday, we send exclusive, bonus content only to people signed up for our mailing list!

Our newsletter subscribers get a rundown Monday to Friday from one of the best Liverpool FC writers — straight to your inbox, and completely for free.

Wherever you are in the world — in the US, the UK or further afield — you don’t want to miss out.

Sign up to the Liverpool.com newsletter here — it only takes a few seconds!

The midfielder would tick a lot of boxes for Liverpool, especially with his ability to play as a ‘number six’ and ‘number eight’ making him an intriguing proposition from a versatility perspective. Of course, club captain Henderson has played in both roles under Klopp, to great effect, but it would do the Reds no harm whatsoever to entertain the idea of bringing in a player who could take the weight off the long-serving midfielder.

Clearly, Koopmeiners is one of the continent’s leading creative players and the fact that he can play a variety of different roles in midfield could make him attractive to a coach like Klopp, who is known for his penchant for tactically flexible players. When one considers the gaps that need plugging in Liverpool’s squad currently, purchasing the Atalanta star could well kill two birds with one stone.

Story Saved

You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.