Arsenal are among clubs interested in the services of AZ Alkmaar midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, who is playing for Netherlands in Euro 2020.
According to journalist Constantin Eckner, Teun Koopmeiners is among the players identified in Arsenal’s short-list in the summer. There is no secret that the Gunners are in the market for midfield reinforcements and the AZ Alkmaar starlet is one on the long list of options.
Koopmeiners is also courted by Atalanta, which is indicative of the player’s skillset, especially when it comes to aggression and leadership in the middle of the park.
A homegrown talent on the books for Alkmaar, Koopmeiners has been in the first-team scene for four years now after initially making a breakthrough during the 2017/18 campaign. He has since notched up 150 competitive appearances for the club, even emerging as the team captain.
UEFA Euro 2020 Group C: Austria, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Ukraine | THT Preview
The 23-year-old is also a part of the Netherlands side that participates in the ongoing European Championship, although he plays second-fiddle, behind the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Georginio Wijnaldum.
Koopmeiners, nevertheless, has built up a solid reputation for his defensive prowess and versatility. The midfielder, in fact, can operate as a centre-back if required, which could greatly appeal to an Arsenal side desperate to find a replacement for Granit Xhaka in the summer.
The Swiss international has been linked with a switch to AS Roma, leaving Mikel Arteta devoid of options in central midfield. In addition to Xhaka, Arsenal are expected to offload several fringe players as well, with Matteo Guendouzi reportedly agreeing personal terms with Marseille.
Even Joe Willock is tipped to leave Emirates, with Newcastle United ready to invest as much as £30 million for the youngster who netted eight goals during the second half of the Premier League campaign.
At Arsenal, Koopmeiners could be an excellent alternative for Ruben Neves – another player linked with a switch to Emirates in the summer. He has a lot of versatility in his game and is a natural leader. The Dutchman’s technical prowess should combine well with Thomas Partey in the double-pivot as well.
The Gunners, though, might face stiff competition in the pursuit of Koopmeiners. The player himself might be repelled from a switch to north London, due to the club’s absence in European competitions, especially with Atalanta – a Champions League club, interested in his services.
It will be interesting to see how this transfer saga transpires this summer. A lot might also depend on how the midfielder fares in the ongoing Euro 2020 for Netherlands.
