Liverpool Lead the Race for Slot Favorite Wijnaldum, Who is “10x the Player’s Size”.

Liverpool’s hopes of winning the Premier League in Jurgen Klopp’s final season are stretched thin – despite the gap to leaders Arsenal being just three points with four games remaining.

Manchester City’s stunning win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday saw the defending champions reclaim second place with a game to play, and Pep Guardiola’s track record in title fights hardly inspires optimism that the Reds can bounce back late.

Still, there is much to be proud of and much to look forward to after last summer’s sweeping midfield changes that revitalized the team after last year’s rapid decline.

It’s all but confirmed that Arne Slot will succeed Klopp as Liverpool helmsman and while this is a nervous, exciting time for the Reds, he will need reinforcements in various areas of the field, with recent news suggesting that a star has already been identified.

Liverpool have their eye on the Serie A star

According to yesterday’s edition of Italian newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Liverpool are particularly in the running to sign Teun Koopmeiners from Atalanta, with the Netherlands international having just knocked Liverpool out of the Europa League.

The report states that La Dea would accept offers worth a total of €60m (£51m). However, it remains to be seen whether FSBG is prepared to facilitate such an effort after focusing on rebuilding the midfield last summer – additions are needed in other areas too.

While it is encouraging that Koopmeiners is seeking a route away from Atalanta, his high-quality style has already attracted a host of rivals and Liverpool will need to work quickly to ensure they achieve their goal.

Teun Koopmeiners’ season in numbers

Koopmeiners is a dynamic player with strengths in various areas, who has played in all areas of midfield this season and has even been deployed on the right wing several times.

Atalanta brought Koopmeiners from his home country in 2021 and signed him from AZ Alkmaar. Since then he has made 120 appearances, scored 41 goals and established himself as a central part of the club’s style.

According to Sofascore, the 26-year-old has scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 29 appearances in Serie A this season, completing 81% of his passes, averaging 1.8 key passes, 1.2 tackles and 4.4 ball recoveries per game His performances made him a “elite“Presence in Italy, says talent scout Jacek Kulig.

He also plays an important role on the continent, starting seven times in the Europa League and playing every minute as Gian Piero Gasperini’s side triumphed over lackluster Liverpool in this month’s quarter-finals. In the two competitions he won twelve duels and managed seven tackles, which underlines his defensive qualities.

Considering he previously made a name for himself under Slot at AZ, it seems like these budding rumors have some weight as Koopmeiners actually played 58 games under his fellow Dutchman’s management.

Why Teun Koopmeiners is perfect for Liverpool

Considering Koopmeiners’ myriad strengths discussed above, there is little reason why Liverpool shouldn’t push forward with a move for his signing this summer – especially considering his desire to leave the club and his multi-functionality in the midfield.

According to FBref, last year Koopmeiners ranked in the top 21% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues in passes attempted, top 17% in progressive passes and top 5% in clearances per 90.

His style of play is not dissimilar to that of West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta, who has athleticism and creativity but is not afraid of his defensive duties and is ready to contribute in different phases of the game.

With his style also reminiscent of Jude Bellingham and Kevin De Bruyne, there is every reason to push ahead with a move that will add a new dimension to the Reds’ midfield and ensure Klopp’s departure does not trigger a nosedive.

But perhaps more aptly, Koopmeiners shares many of the attributes of his compatriot Gini Wijnaldum and could actually be molded into such a metronomic presence in the middle of the park for Slots’ soon-to-be-released system on Merseyside.

The Atalanta star, who earns £32,000 a week, could even “10x the player Wijnaldum“may have been able to emulate such a role in a new, reformed Liverpool team, according to Dutch writer Kees van Hemmen.

Wijnaldum was one of the most underrated cogs in Klopp’s Liverpool system at its peak. He rarely managed to score goals, but played an invaluable role in winning a number of major awards, such as the Premier League and Champions League, among others.

The Dutch star was signed from relegated Newcastle United for £25 million in 2016 and went on to make 237 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 22 goals. He has even been described as “irreplaceable” by Richard Jolly.

And with Wijnaldum never falling below an 87% passing average in his years at Liverpool, his ability as a crisp and sophisticated midfielder is truly highlighted.

Koopmeiners is certainly not a copy, but he has technical skills at a similar level to his compatriot, praised by Dutch legend Ruud Krol for his “complete” skills – and he’s intelligent to boot.

Liverpool must now weigh up their options and discuss details with Slot when the time comes. However, Koopmeiners certainly has plenty of quality and would be a brilliant addition to a newly formed Liverpool side, having gained Slot’s trust long ago.