Liverpool $48m 'target' already has agreement to leave as new claim emerges after manager search
Supposed Liverpool target Teun Koopmeiners already has an agreement to leave Atalanta while a new claim has emerged with the Reds soon to lose Jürgen Klopp. Here's your round-up of the latest Liverpool news.
New Jürgen Klopp succession planning claim emerges
Writing in his Caught Offside Daily Briefing, BILD chief reporter Christian Falk has suggested that Hansi Flick and his representatives decided against contacting Liverpool and putting him forward for the job of replacing Jürgen Klopp this summer — not that Michael Edwards and co would have chosen someone simply because they put themselves forward for the role anyway.
Falk has claimed that Flick might have thrown his hat in the ring to take over at Liverpool had he not been eyeing up the Barcelona job. He wanted that on, but instead, Xavi has performed a U-turn and opted not to leave the Camp Nou. He will be staying next season and Barcelona therefore doesn't need a new coach.
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"He was told by [Barcelona president] Joan Laporta that if Xavi leaves, he’s very high on the list," Falk wrote. "Pini Zahavi, his agent, is very close to Laporta, so he was concentrating on this deal. This is why, I heard, he didn’t even talk with Liverpool. He wasn’t offered by his management to Liverpool, which would have been a normal reaction when such a club is free and searching for a manager."
Now, though, Flick, Falk says, is 'very keen' on making the move to the Premier League. Manchester United could be in the market for a new manager if Erik ten Hag departs while Chelsea never feels too far away from a change. Other than that, however, there are not going to be loads of options available.
Teun Koopmeiners transfer 'agreement'
Teun Koopmeiners has an agreement with Serie A club Atalanta that he can leave this summer, according to the Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport. He is supposedly of interest to both Liverpool and Juventus.
A substantial bid would still need to be tabled and it remains to be seen whether or not Koopmeiners is a top target for Liverpool but the Dutchman did work with Arne Slot at AZ Alkmaar. Adding more depth in the center of the pitch would not be the worst thing for the Reds heading into next season.
The price is expected to be more than $48m (£39m/€45m). Juventus is the most likely destination for Koopmeiners but the Old Lady would need to qualify for the Champions League before sealing a deal. In the meantime, the suggestion from the report is that the Reds could steal in and take advantage of that window of opportunity.