Notizie
Trasferimenti

Teun Koopmeiners: Where next for one of Serie A’s most underrated stars?

Teun Koopmeiners: Where next for one of Serie A’s most underrated stars?

Condividi

With over 125 senior club appearances to his name, Teun Koopmeiners will go down in Atalanta club history for being one of La Dea’s standout performers during one of their most successful periods, both in Serie A, and in Europe.

By Nathan Evans

After joining the club back in 2021 from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for a reported fee of just under €15million, he’s now decided to ask to leave his current team this summer and will be looking to finish on a high on Wednesday as the Italian outfit battle it out with Bayer Leverkusen for this campaign’s UEFA Europa League title.  

In truth, Koopmeiners options won’t be limited when it comes to taking the next step in his career. Although, that been said, given his overall talent and profile at present, only the biggest clubs in Europe will likely be able to afford his services this off-season, with Atalanta almost certainly demanding a sizeable fee for the Dutchman who still has three years left on his current contract. 

But even if a large fee is commanded by the Italian club at some point in the next few months, it could still prove to be a bargain for Koopmeiners.

This season, the 26-year-old has taken another step in the right direction in terms of his progression, anchoring an Atalanta side that look set to qualify for the Champions League again through their Serie A position. On top of that, Coppa Italia and Europa League final berths have meant that this campaign has been another very successful one for Gian Piero Gasperini’s team. Atalanta’s current number seven has played a particularly pivotal part in that success, here’s why. 

When it comes to the 2023/24 season in particular there’s only one place to start, and that’s with the Dutch international’s much improved finishing which has seen him net 15 goals across all competitions at the time of writing. Not only is that by far his best return on Italian soil during his Atalanta career to date, but it’s the overall quality of his shooting that has caught the eye. 

So far in Serie A this season, Koopmeiners’ 12 league goals have come from just 20 shots on target and 6.37 xG, while his conversion rate stands at 23.1% with two matches to play – a figure that can only be beaten by Albert Gudmundsson, Paulo Dybala, and teammate Charles De Ketelaere amongst attacking midfield players who have netted 10+ goals. And it’s the latter of those players with whom he’s grown a great partnership with in Bergamo this season. That’s a mightily impressive return all things considered, not least because the Atalanta star usually occupies one of the two CAM roles in Gasperini’s now renowned 3-4-2-1 set up. But despite sitting that bit deeper, Koopmeiners has developed into a player with excellent long-range finishing, something that has been witnessed time and time again by the Atalanta faithful this season.

Alongside his fantastic goal output, Koopmeiners has continued to enhance his reading of the game even further this term, an area of his play which is, quite frankly, levels above the average Serie A player. Although his passing accuracy remains relatively low at 81.2% in this season’s league campaign, that can largely be explained by his range of forward passing as he often attempts through balls to the main striker, whilst the majority of passes overall come in a progressive form as he aims to bring attacking opportunities to his side. Both of those aspects of his game really highlight his fantastic vision with the ball at his feet.  

As well as progressing possession with his passing, Koopmeiners is additionally adept at making well-timed runs through the opposition’s backline himself, and at driving through the centre of the park – mostly between the lines – to great effect when the chance arises. His 195 progressive carries completed in Serie A this season rank him quite highly in that regard.

Those skills have almost certainly improved as he’s been deployed further forward up the pitch in recent times with Atalanta, something which now outlines Koopmeiners as a truly well-rounded midfield player given that he came into football as a more box-to-box and defensive minded midfielder. That’s something that can be seen with a glance at his defensive output in Italy’s top-flight this season. 

When comparing his numbers to all other wingers and attacking midfielders in similar leagues, Koopmeiners ranks in the top 15% percentile for aerial duels won, shots blocked, overall ball recoveries and times winning possession in the final third, the latter acting as something of utmost importance to the way this Atalanta teams operate. His overall versatility in order to take undertake different roles in the midfield to a high degree can be seriously highlighted by the fact that across Serie A this season, the Dutchman is one of just two players to record 35+ tackles, 50+ chances created, 75+ touches in the opposition’s box, 100+ duels won, 100+ ball recoveries and 125+ passes played into the box – the other being Matías Soulé at Frosinone.

So which sides are likely to be in the market for Koopmeiners this summer, based on the above? 

Well, the obvious destination on paper would arguably be Liverpool who could be tempted to bring in another midfield addition this summer in order to offer new manager Arne Slot plenty of options in the centre of the park, with a return to the Champions League on the horizon. Slot himself has also previously managed the midfielder during his time with AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, helping to aid the now 26-year-old’s growth as a defensive midfielder – whilst also using him at a deputising centre-back – so the Atalanta man’s apparent interest in moving to Anfield this upcoming transfer window seems more than plausible. 

Fellow Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United are additionally said to have been tracking Koopmeiners in recent months, but as both feasibly need to add to their respective squads immediately in other areas, placing a formal bid could be viewed as a long shot at present. 

Elsewhere, Italian giants Juventus also reportedly hold significant interest in bringing the midfielder to Turin this summer. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Old Lady have labelled their rival’s player as their number one target this summer, though they’ll need to bring in a new manager quickly after Massimiliano Allegri’s departure to steal a march on other sides in their pursuit of his signature.  

Where Teun Koopmeiners will go next remains a mystery for now, but whichever club is lucky enough to acquire his services this summer will have added one of Europe’s most underrated midfielders to their squad. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Atalanta game on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Teun Koopmeiners: Where next for one of Serie A’s most underrated stars?

With over 125 senior club appearances to his name, Teun Koopmeiners will go down in Atalanta club history for being one of La Dea’s standout performers during one of their most successful periods, both in Serie A, and in Europe.

By Nathan Evans

After joining the club back in 2021 from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for a reported fee of just under €15million, he’s now decided to ask to leave his current team this summer and will be looking to finish on a high on Wednesday as the Italian outfit battle it out with Bayer Leverkusen for this campaign’s UEFA Europa League title.  

In truth, Koopmeiners options won’t be limited when it comes to taking the next step in his career. Although, that been said, given his overall talent and profile at present, only the biggest clubs in Europe will likely be able to afford his services this off-season, with Atalanta almost certainly demanding a sizeable fee for the Dutchman who still has three years left on his current contract. 

But even if a large fee is commanded by the Italian club at some point in the next few months, it could still prove to be a bargain for Koopmeiners.

This season, the 26-year-old has taken another step in the right direction in terms of his progression, anchoring an Atalanta side that look set to qualify for the Champions League again through their Serie A position. On top of that, Coppa Italia and Europa League final berths have meant that this campaign has been another very successful one for Gian Piero Gasperini’s team. Atalanta’s current number seven has played a particularly pivotal part in that success, here’s why. 

When it comes to the 2023/24 season in particular there’s only one place to start, and that’s with the Dutch international’s much improved finishing which has seen him net 15 goals across all competitions at the time of writing. Not only is that by far his best return on Italian soil during his Atalanta career to date, but it’s the overall quality of his shooting that has caught the eye. 

So far in Serie A this season, Koopmeiners’ 12 league goals have come from just 20 shots on target and 6.37 xG, while his conversion rate stands at 23.1% with two matches to play – a figure that can only be beaten by Albert Gudmundsson, Paulo Dybala, and teammate Charles De Ketelaere amongst attacking midfield players who have netted 10+ goals. And it’s the latter of those players with whom he’s grown a great partnership with in Bergamo this season. That’s a mightily impressive return all things considered, not least because the Atalanta star usually occupies one of the two CAM roles in Gasperini’s now renowned 3-4-2-1 set up. But despite sitting that bit deeper, Koopmeiners has developed into a player with excellent long-range finishing, something that has been witnessed time and time again by the Atalanta faithful this season.

Alongside his fantastic goal output, Koopmeiners has continued to enhance his reading of the game even further this term, an area of his play which is, quite frankly, levels above the average Serie A player. Although his passing accuracy remains relatively low at 81.2% in this season’s league campaign, that can largely be explained by his range of forward passing as he often attempts through balls to the main striker, whilst the majority of passes overall come in a progressive form as he aims to bring attacking opportunities to his side. Both of those aspects of his game really highlight his fantastic vision with the ball at his feet.  

As well as progressing possession with his passing, Koopmeiners is additionally adept at making well-timed runs through the opposition’s backline himself, and at driving through the centre of the park – mostly between the lines – to great effect when the chance arises. His 195 progressive carries completed in Serie A this season rank him quite highly in that regard.

Those skills have almost certainly improved as he’s been deployed further forward up the pitch in recent times with Atalanta, something which now outlines Koopmeiners as a truly well-rounded midfield player given that he came into football as a more box-to-box and defensive minded midfielder. That’s something that can be seen with a glance at his defensive output in Italy’s top-flight this season. 

When comparing his numbers to all other wingers and attacking midfielders in similar leagues, Koopmeiners ranks in the top 15% percentile for aerial duels won, shots blocked, overall ball recoveries and times winning possession in the final third, the latter acting as something of utmost importance to the way this Atalanta teams operate. His overall versatility in order to take undertake different roles in the midfield to a high degree can be seriously highlighted by the fact that across Serie A this season, the Dutchman is one of just two players to record 35+ tackles, 50+ chances created, 75+ touches in the opposition’s box, 100+ duels won, 100+ ball recoveries and 125+ passes played into the box – the other being Matías Soulé at Frosinone.

So which sides are likely to be in the market for Koopmeiners this summer, based on the above? 

Well, the obvious destination on paper would arguably be Liverpool who could be tempted to bring in another midfield addition this summer in order to offer new manager Arne Slot plenty of options in the centre of the park, with a return to the Champions League on the horizon. Slot himself has also previously managed the midfielder during his time with AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, helping to aid the now 26-year-old’s growth as a defensive midfielder – whilst also using him at a deputising centre-back – so the Atalanta man’s apparent interest in moving to Anfield this upcoming transfer window seems more than plausible. 

Fellow Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United are additionally said to have been tracking Koopmeiners in recent months, but as both feasibly need to add to their respective squads immediately in other areas, placing a formal bid could be viewed as a long shot at present. 

Elsewhere, Italian giants Juventus also reportedly hold significant interest in bringing the midfielder to Turin this summer. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Old Lady have labelled their rival’s player as their number one target this summer, though they’ll need to bring in a new manager quickly after Massimiliano Allegri’s departure to steal a march on other sides in their pursuit of his signature.  

Where Teun Koopmeiners will go next remains a mystery for now, but whichever club is lucky enough to acquire his services this summer will have added one of Europe’s most underrated midfielders to their squad. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Atalanta game on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.