The Dutchman was a product of AZ Alkmaar’s youth academy before joining Atalanta for a whopping €14 million (£12m) in 2021, since then he has played 112 times for La Dea.
Initially a defensive midfielder, Koopmeiners has now enjoyed a successful transition to the No. 10 position and has scored 26 goals and 12 assists in 112 appearances for Atalanta in all competitions.
In a productive 2023-24 campaign, the 26-year-old increased his goalscoring risk with 12 goals and four assists in 34 games, helping Atalanta reach the Europa League quarter-finals and Coppa Italia semi-finals.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men will face Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the European secondary competition and the Reds are reportedly one of the few groups to have reached an agreement for the Koopmeiners.
Man United and Juventus have also been hinted at making a move, and all three have now earned their breath in their pursuit by Koopmeiners, who has shown a preference for leaving in search of a new adventure this summer.
“I told the club that I would like to leave this summer,” Koopmeiners told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, as quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“But to leave Bergamo an attractive offer has to arrive, because I expect Atalanta to earn a good sum with my transfer. Hopefully it has some features to consider. “
The midfielder’s request for a move is expected to put Man United, Liverpool and other clubs in England on red alert, and he even joked that he would tolerate rainy weather to fulfil his dream of being in the Premier League.
“For some Premier League clubs I would even tolerate rain in England,” added the Dutchman. “I had a great time in Bergamo, my friend and I are having a lot of fun. “
Liverpool will lose Thiago Alcantara to a vague play when the Spaniard’s contract expires at the end of the season, while Man United could say goodbye to a handful of midfielders in the coming months.
Donny van de Beek and Fiorentina loanee Sofyan Amrabat are expected to be on the verge of leaving, while uncertainty also persists over the long-term of Casemiro, who is considered a target in the Saudi Pro League.
However, Juventus are also looking for a new pivot to update Paul Pogba, recently suspended for 4 years for doping, and Koopmeiners is unaware of the Old Lady’s interest, adding: “If I said I didn’t do it, if I did I don’t have that news, I’d be lying, I’ve read it too. “
The Dutchman, whose contract with Atalanta runs until 2027, also revealed that reigning champions Napoli were in talks to sign him last summer, but the two clubs failed to reach an agreement.
Koopmeiners is recently part of the Netherlands squad to prepare for their upcoming friendlies against Scotland and Germany on Friday and Tuesday respectively.