Liverpool transfer news: Reds in 'front row' for £72m Serie A star

Liverpool are in the 'front row' to sign Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners and may have to fork out £72m to beat Tottenham and Juventus to his signature.

Despite signing four midfielders last summer in a complete overhaul to the engine room at Anfield, the Reds continue to be linked with a host of further additions in the centre of the pitch.

One of those that has been touted with a switch to Liverpool is highly-rated Dutch international Teun Koopmeiners of Atalanta, who has been in mightily impressive form for the Serie A side recently.

In fact, the 25-year-old has nine goals and four assists in 28 appearances this season, and has attracted interest from Europe's elite clubs as he blossoms as a playmaker for La Dea.

According to Calcio Mercato, Liverpool and Tottenham are the two teams in the 'front row' for his signature, with Juventus also showing significant interest in the midfielder.

However, with Atalanta keen not to sell him to a Serie A rival, clubs outside of Italy may have a better chance of signing Koopmeiners this summer.

According to the Italian report, Atalanta are eager to get an auction going for Koopmeiners' services and are looking to sell for a similar fee to that they received from Manchester United last summer for Rasmus Hojlund.

That means the Reds may have to splash around £72m to get Koopmeiners through the door, although that fee could likely be negotiated.

A Dutch international teammate of Liverpool trio Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch, the pursuit of Koopmeiners will depend heavily on who fills the vacant sporting director role at Anfield in the coming months, as well as which manager is chosen to succeed Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.

Liverpool are well-stocked in the engine room at present, although they will lose Thiago Alcantara this summer, and don't necessarily need to splash a fortune on a new midfielder.

The Reds are likely to prioritise defensive reinforcements in what will be a summer of transition on Merseyside, keeping a keen eye on a left-sided centre back.