Liverpool scouting Dutch alternative to Bellingham with Lijnders transfer influence clear

Liverpool are reportedly tracking Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners ahead of a potential January move.

Koopmeiners featured for Netherlands at the World Cup, helping them to reach the quarter-final stage.

A physical box-to-box midfielder, the 24-year-old featured in all five games at the tournament for Louis van Gaal's side. He started two of them, including the quarter-final penalty shootout defeat to Argentina.

Should the midfielder join Liverpool, he would become the third Dutch international in Jurgen Klopp's senior squad. The Reds also have Virgil van Dijk and new January signing Cody Gakpo on their books, while young centre-back Sepp van den Berg is currently on loan at Bundesliga side Schalke.

Klopp's assistant, Pep Lijnders, is also Dutch, and The Telegraph report he is having an 'increasingly important influence' when it comes to Liverpool transfer business.

And new reports suggest that the club are taking a keen interest in Koopmeiners.

Liverpool keen on Atalanta star Koopmeiners

According to iNews, the Reds have watched the midfielder on a number of occasions, with the Dutch star perhaps a perfect addition to the club's midfield to add more energy.

Liverpool have been criticised throughout the season for failing to bring in a midfielder on a permanent deal in the summer.

They did bring in Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus, but injury has restricted him to just a single appearance. In addition, according to Goal's Neil Jones, the Brazilian will not be retained by Liverpool when his loan expires at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Klopp has confirmed the club do have Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham on their radar, but stopped short of expanding on the status of any deal.

He told SportBILD: "These things [talks] are not possible because he is under contract with Borussia Dortmund. That is not possible without their consent.

"So it's not true. Jude is a great player who we are familiar with, of course. We'd be stupid not to have him on our radar. But there's nothing more to say at the moment."

If Liverpool do not sign Bellingham, who is also wanted by Real Madrid, Koopmeiners could be the ideal alternative. With a current Transfermarkt value of €30 million, he would be cheaper too.