Why Leeds United should go all out for Teun Koopmeiners this summer
According to The Telegraph, Premier League newcomers Leeds United have been credited with an interest in Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, who currently plies his trade with AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie.
The versatile 22-year-old, who has three years remaining on his current deal at the AFAS Stadion, is rated at £10million by the Dutch club. (h/t The Telegraph)
Profile
Teun Koopmeiners joined AZ’s academy at the U-12 level and initially impressed for the club’s reserve team in the lower divisions before making his first-team debut during the 2017-18 campaign.
He has since gone on to establish himself as one of the most sought-after young players in the Eredivisie while also impressing in the UEFA Europa League. Koopmeiners has registered an impressive tally of 27 goals and 10 assists in 113 appearances for Alkmaar in all competitions.
Essentially a defensive midfielder by trade, Koopmeiners boasts the versatility to slot into a centre-back role while also possessing the right balance of attributes to operate as a box-to-box midfielder.
The left-footed ace has represented the Netherlands across all age-group levels between U-17 and U-21, with Koopmeiners remaining uncapped at the senior international level despite being called up on a few occasions.
Koopmeiners’ versatility should be an appealing proposition for Leeds
Leeds United have made some statement signings this summer following their promotion to the Premier League, with Robin Koch, Rodrigo Moreno, and Diego Llorente all coming through the door at Elland Road.
However, there are still quite a few gaps to be plugged as the Whites look to add more depth to their ranks and wrap up their transfer business on a positive note before next months’ deadline. Leeds have already got one of the best young defensive midfielders in English football in Kalvin Phillips, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to provide him with some much-needed cover and competition.
Bielsa needs some specialist options in that No.6 role to facilitate squad rotation moving forward, considering the hectic schedule and the challenge of participating in the domestic cup competitions.
In fact, the manager also needs some squad options to reduce the workload on Mateusz Klich and veteran Pablo Hernandez further up the pitch, with youngsters like Tyler Roberts, Jamie Shackleton, and Mateusz Bogusz not quite ready to play a significant role in the top-flight just yet.
To put things into perspective, a potential move for Teun Koopmeiners would offer Bielsa with some valuable cover in multiple areas of the pitch, thus making him a lucrative option for Leeds United.
The Dutchman looks more than capable of providing some quality cover for Phillips at the base of the midfield. His versatility to play in a box-to-box role would also reduce the reliance on Klich and Hernandez.
He scored 11 league goals for Alkmaar last season while featuring largely in a deep midfield role, meaning Koopmeiners is more than capable of contributing to the attack. Furthermore, the 22-year-old has also shown that he is capable of playing as a central defender, thus providing Bielsa with a rare left-footed option at the heart of the defence.
Read More
- Why Leeds United signing Emile Smith Rowe on loan would be a smart move
- Why Pedro De La Vega would be a good signing for Leeds United
Verdict
Teun Koopmeiners perfectly fits the bill as a utility squad option at Elland Road, considering his versatility to play so many different roles in midfield and defence. The 22-year-old still has his best years ahead of him and Leeds United completing a £10m deal for the Dutch starlet would represent an excellent piece of business, not only for the present but for the long-term as well.
