Rumour Mongering: Liverpool, Inter, and Roma Eyeing Teun Koopmeiners

Gini Wijnaldum’s footballing future remains uncertain, and there’s still a slim chance he could re-sign with Liverpool, but the assumption at this stage is that the veteran Dutch midfielder will be moving on in the summer when his contract expires.

That means the Reds will be on the lookout for a replacement, or at least that’s the long-standing assumption of the rumour mongers, and today they’ve gone and added another name to the list of players the club could target to will Wijnaldum’s role.

The new name to track is Teun Koopmeiners, AZ Alkmaar’s 23-year-old captain, a left footer who has made 141 appearances for the Eredivisie side, primarily as a holding midfielder. He also has filled in at times at centre half and has one senior Dutch cap.

This week, he’s been linked with the Reds by the likes of Calciomercato in Italy and Diario AS in Spain, with Liverpool said to be one of many potential suitors along with Inter Milan, Roma, and Sevilla. The player’s current deal runs through 2023.

On paper, at least, Koopmeiners does seem to fit the template of the sort of talented young players Liverpool like to target, players good enough to potentially contribute in a squad role from day one while having plenty of upside for the future.

Of course, there are a great many players one could say that of, and given the number of teams being linked and with his contract now down to two years in a season he has taken a step up with AZ might hint at a player looking for an improved deal.

Still, if Wijnaldum leaves this summer a replacement is likely, and Koopmeiners is at the least an intriguing name to keep track of in the coming weeks and months.