This is not the first – nor will it be the last case – of a player using the international break to float his name in the gossip columns and flutter his eyelashes in the direction of interested clubs. The £60 million midfielder, linked with Manchester United and more, wants a fresh start this summer.
But that does not mean his departure is a foregone conclusion, however.
According to HITC Football, Manchester United had plans to scout the extremely highly-rated – and remarkably well-rounded – Teun Koopmeiners during the Netherlands 2-1 defeat to Germany in Frankfurt on Tuesday night. It would have been a wasted trip. Koopmeiners was ruled out through injury.
But still, his stellar performances for Atalanta over the last two seasons should provide more than enough justification for Man United to install Koopmeiners, who will be known to Erik ten Hag on the back of his time in the Eredivisie, as one of their leading summer targets. He is, after all, a ball-winner, a ball-player, a box-crasher, a set-piece specialist and a tempo-setting playmaker rolled into one.
Koopmeiners has also hit double figures in each of his Serie A seasons, while scoring two hat-tricks from midfield.
Manchester United eye Teun Koopmeiners
The former AZ Alkmaar captain, it seems, is also as keen on Premier League clubs as Premier League clubs are on him, Tottenham, Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal all scouting the Dutch powerhouse.
“I told Atalanta I want to leave in the summer,” Koopmeiners told De Telegraaf last week.
“Last season, there was concrete interest from Napoli, but the two clubs didn’t reach an agreement. I hope there will be options to consider this year. My girlfriend and I are enjoying Italy, but I would endure rain for some clubs in England!
“I’d lie if I said I have no news of interest from Juventus and Premier League clubs. I’ve had an amazing time at Atalanta, and I hope they will get a big sum (while selling me).”
Dutchman valued at £60 million
Atalanta, however, appear to have no plans to do just that. Koopmeiners has another three years left on his contract, after all. And while Man United have a good relationship with La Dea – they signed Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund from the Serie A outfit – the Red Devils would have to dig deep if they want to bring one of the most complete midfielders in Europe to Old Trafford.
“This club is solid and does not need to sell,” Atalanta director Luca Percassi tells told L’Eco di Bergamo newspaper.
“Koopmeiners has not been sold to Juve, nor anyone else. In fact, he never asked us to be sold.”
That final point could be rendered moot in the coming weeks, however, with Koopmeiners obviously very keen on the idea of taking his talents to the Premier League, in his own words.
Per reports, Man United watched Koopmeiners – as well as Giorgio Scalvini and Joshua Zirkzee – during the recent Serie A clash between Atalanta and Bologna.