Liverpool given transfer boost for Arne Slot target - but face familiar Man United problem

Liverpool may have to follow the same path as Manchester United to sign one of their reported transfer targets.

The Reds are already being linked with several potential new signings ahead of the summer transfer window. Arne Slot is expected to be the next Liverpool manager, where he will replace Jurgen Klopp who departs following this weekend's Premier League fixture against Wolves.

Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners is one player who has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer. Slot worked with Koopmeiners during his spell as AZ Alkmaar managed from 2019-20, with the midfielder leaving the Eredivisie club to join Atalanta a year later in 2021.

Reports in recent months have claimed that the Reds have an interest in signing Koopmeiners, but may have to agree to Atalanta's price tag. Tuttosport claimed earlier this week that the Serie A club would demand a fee in the region of €70 million (£51.5m-£60m) to allow Koopmeiners to leave the club.

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Now a fresh update has emerged around Koopmeiners' future, which centres around the reported interest from Liverpool. Journalist Emanuele Corazzi has explained why Liverpool and Koopmeiners are following the same path as when Man United signed Rasmus Hojlund last summer, and why a similar situation may happen again this summer.

“Atalanta with Koopmeiners is doing exactly what they did with Hojlund, that is: ‘Juve are interested but let’s wait, let’s see what offers arrive’, because many English bigs, one above all Liverpool, are so interested in Koopmeiners," Corazzi told Cronache di Spogliatoio, via Tutto Juve.

"Last year Hojlund had so many offers, Atalanta waited and then sold him to United for a huge sum. It’s a bit more difficult for Koopmeiners to go to Juventus should Liverpool come along.”

United were linked with signing Hojlund for weeks last summer before eventually agreeing to pay £72 million to sign the striker and meet Atalanta's asking price. Should Liverpool be forced to do the same with a deal for Koopmeiners then it would likely cost upwards of £50 million or even £60 million if the aforementioned price tag is accurate.