The Netherlands midfielder Teun Koopmeiners is flattered by Liverpool’s interest in him – well, who wouldn’t be? – but remains totally committed to Atalanta, where he currently plies his trade. The 24-year-old had a great World Cup, playing a pivotal role in his country’s run to that quarter-final thriller against Argentina, and has apparently been the subject of long-term interest in the Anfield scouting department.
“I saw the links and stories about Liverpool,” said Koopmeiners. “Nice to see that but I’m 100% focused on Atalanta, I’m so happy to play here.” While he’s making all the right noises, here on the Rumour Mill’s patented Come And Get Me Plea-o-meter, we’re registering that as a solid 7/10.
Speculation suggests Atalanta, who remain in the hunt for a top four Serie A finish, have no intention of selling Koopmeiners in the current window, which means Jürgen Klopp may instead turn his attention to others on what some might say is a wildly optimistic shopping list. Brighton’s Moisés Caicedo, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Kouadio Koné, Fulham’s João Palhinha, Nice’s Khéphren Thuram and idle whimsy’s Uncle Tom Cobley are all believed to be on his radar.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Enzo Fernández is the current window’s most tedious saga and looks set to feature several more twists and turns. While several British media outlets are interpreting comments made by the Benfica manager, Roger Schmidt, yesterday to mean negotiations between the two clubs over a £112m transfer have irreparably broken down, your Rumour Mill has taken a different view.
What Schmidt actually said is that “the issue with Enzo is closed”, which we took to mean that, having been left out of his side’s squad to face Portimonense last Friday as a punishment for having his head turned, the young Argentinian midfielder will now be welcomed back into the fold but could still leave in the next couple of weeks.
Goal-shy Chelsea’s pursuit of the Portuguese striker João Félix on loan from Atlético Madrid is expected to reach a successful end in the next 24 hours, although the word from Spain is that his current employers could lob a late spanner in the works by adding an additional year to his contract in order to increase his sell-on value when that loan spell concludes.
The Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, remains determined to “get it launched” to Wout Weghorst and it seems the subject of his desire really wants Manchester United to launch “it” his way. Still a Burnley player out on loan at Besiktas until the end of the season, Weghorst was criticised by the Turkish club’s hierarchy for bidding fans a premature farewell over the weekend. Reports on Tuesday suggest the target man is so desperate to force a move to Old Trafford that he is prepared to compensate Besiktas by dipping into his own penny jar and handing over a fistful of change.
The subject of interest from Wolves, Internazionale and Porto, Racing Club’s 20-year-old central midfielder Carlos Alcaraz is believed to be on the verge of adding some much-needed steel to Southampton’s midfield. The Italian transfer boffin Fabrizio Romano says Alcaraz will undergo a medical this week before inking a deal worth more than £12m, while Racing will trouser 15% of any sell-on fee when he signs for a bigger club in two years’ time.
And finally, Celtic are open to offers for their big Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, who may be Major League Soccer-bound, while Aston Villa are “closing in” on a £12m deal for Real Betis’s 29-year-old left-back Álex Moreno, with an agreement expected to be announced any minute now.
