According to Tuttosport, Newcastle United are eyeing a January move for Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners. The 25-year-old Dutchman has been identified as a possible replacement for the suspended Sandro Tonali. The Italian, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan during the summer, has been banned from all competitive footballing activities until August 2024 for gambling offences.Â
Club representatives from Newcastle are said to have already been to Bergamo to discuss a deal for Koopmeiners. Atalanta reportedly value the former AZ Alkmaar midfielder at around €70m. This would make him the club’s second most expensive outgoing ever after Rasmus Højlund left the Serie A side for Manchester United in the summer.
Teun Koopmeiners kicked off his career with AZ Alkmaar, where he rose through the ranks in their youth academy before becoming the club’s captain. In total, he featured 154 times for AZ, scoring 43 goals and providing 17 assists. His ability to play as an attacking midfielder, holding midfielder, or even as a centre-back can make him an incredibly useful player in any side. Koopmeiners has also featured 18 times for the Netherlands national team.
Atalanta paid just €14m for Teun Koopmeiners in the summer of 2021. He’s been a crucial player for the club, helping them to a fifth-place finish in Serie A last season. The club have recently extended his contract until 2028, which means they’re in no hurry to sell the Dutchman. If Newcastle are able to bring Koopmeiners to the Premier League, he could certainly be a brilliant addition to Eddie Howe’s squad.
