Liverpool transfer news: Reds to table £40m bid for Serie A star

Liverpool are prepared to offer Atalanta £40m to sign midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, according to one report.

The Reds already recruited four new midfielders last summer - Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch - but continue to be linked with new signings in the engine room.

With Thiago's contract expiring at the end of the season and Liverpool highly unlikely to renew it, Jurgen Klopp may be keen to bring a new face into midfield soon.

Fluminense's Andre was a player regularly linked with the Reds in the January transfer window, while Anfield Watch understands that Genoa defensive midfielder Morten Frendrup is on Liverpool's radar.

However, according to Italian outlet La Gazzetta Dello Sport (via FourFourTwo), a player that the Reds are pursuing is Teun Koopmeiners of Atalanta, with the Reds even ready to bid £40m for his services.

The report states that Atalanta would rather sell Koopmeiners to a foreign club over a Serie A rival, with Newcastle United the other side named as potential suitors.

Given Newcastle's current financial situation, Gazzetta report that Liverpool could move for him unopposed this winter.

The 20-cap Netherlands international is a versatile midfielder - something that Klopp likes - and is capable if playing in either a holding midfield role or as a box-to-box player.

The 25-year-old continually impresses for La Dea, providing 11 goal contributions from midfield this season (7G, 4A).

Koopmeiners is a player that Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will know well from the national team, as will Reds forward Cody Gakpo.

However, Liverpool are highly unlikely to make any signings this January, and it's expected that they will strengthen their defence before making any more midfield additions.

Therefore, Koopmeiners, who has been linked with Anfield in the past, may not be a prime candidate for Klopp, and he certainly won't be signing for the Reds this winter.