Tottenham emerge as likely landing spot for complete playmaker likened to Gundogan
With a playmaker “similar” to former Man City captain Ilkay Gundogan, Tottenham is now one of the favorites to recruit him.
After a successful window, manager Ange Postecoglou’s team is already planning their summer transfer strategy as Spurs look to add new players to support their well-liked head coach.
In fact, trustworthy club insider Paul O’Keefe recently revealed that Tottenham is considering Barcelona star Raphinha as one of their targets for later in the season. Meanwhile, other well-known sources claim Tottenham is preparing a strong move for Chelsea star Conor Gallagher in the event that the 23-year-old declines to sign a new contract.
Given the recent links to players like Adrien Rabiot of Juventus, the midfield position seems to be one to look out for.
After spending around £45 million to transfer from Leicester City to Tottenham last summer, James Maddison has been an enormous success. However, an injury to the Englishman earlier this season has left Postecoglou without a top-tier creative center option.
Spurs are said to have been eager to recruit a new number eight, preferably one who can partner with Maddison, maybe as a consequence. This may still be a player to keep an eye on in the summer given their persistent connections to talented offensive midfield players.
Teun Koopmeiners, the outstanding player for Atalanta, is another player worth mentioning. This week, the Italian news source Calciomercato released an updated report on Koopmeiners’ future.
Koopmeiners: Tottenham in the first row
The Netherlands international has played in 21 Serie A games in 2023–2024, netting seven goals and dishing out three assists. Football Transfers has even drawn comparisons between the player and Barcelona’s Gundogan.
Additionally, he is a flexible playmaker who can operate as both a classic midfielder and a more advanced playmaker, which would be extremely helpful for Postecoglou.
Being one of the main creators in Atalanta, this is said to have drawn attention from north London. Tottenham and Liverpool are “in the front row” to recruit Koopmeiners, according to Calciomercato, and are among the favorites to do so.
| Teun Koopmeiners’ best Serie A games for Atalanta this season | Match Rating (via WhoScored) |
|---|---|
| Genoa 1-4 Atalanta | 8.40 |
| Atalanta 3-0 Sassuolo | 8.05 |
| Atalanta 5-0 Frosinone | 8.04 |
| Empoli 0-3 Atalanta | 7.95 |
| Fiorentina 3-2 Atalanta | 7.82 |
The article claims that Atalanta would seek a price of about £73 million, but it is also said that his future would be a major issue of debate in Bergamo.
The finest Serie A matches Teun Koopmeiners has had for Atalanta this year
“Koop is a superb athlete. Ruud Kroll, a former Dutch great, said of him, “He is the starter for the Netherlands national team and has international caliber.”
“I can definitely see him succeeding at a major club. Milan or Juventus? He would undoubtedly be very beneficial to them both. Koopmeiners is a versatile midfielder who can play both playmaking and midfield roles. All coaches, including Allegri, would benefit from having him as a complete football player.
Read ALSO: £26M Midfielder admits he lost his love for the game at Tottenham
Read Also: Hugo Lloris gives 2 key reasons why Spurs did not win a trophy with Pochettino
Read Also: One game all season: Spurs should axe £75k-p/w dud earning 50% more than Van de Ven
Read Also: Signed by Conte, now worth more than Son: Spurs struck gold with special 5ft 8 wizard
Read Also: Bayern Harry Kane set for early reunion with Tottenham Hotspur in few days