An update has emerged on Liverpool and their interest in Teun Koopmeiners at the start of the January transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to i News, the Reds have been tracking the central midfielder in recent months as they eye up potential reinforcements in that area of the pitch.

Jude Bellingham is named as another player in their crosshairs but it is stated that the finances involved mean that they may only be able to bring him in at the end of the season.

The report adds that the growing Dutch influence in the club's recruitment could be down to the prominence of assistant manager Pep Lijnders in discussions, with Koopmeiners potentially joining Cody Gakpo in arriving at Anfield this month.

Harvey Elliott upgrade

Due to a lack of signings in midfield last summer and a number of injury issues to some of the senior professionals at the club, Jurgen Klopp has been forced to rely upon young Harvey Elliott at times in the Premier League.

The 19-year-old has started 12 matches in the top flight, featuring in 17 games in total, and the left-footed midfielder has often been deployed on the right side of a midfield three for Liverpool.

However, he has struggled to truly impress and an average Sofascore rating of 6.80, which places him 16th in the squad, does not suggest that he stepped up to the mark with his added responsibility in the side.

Koopmeiners, however, is more experienced at the top level, at the age of 24, and has been in fine form for Atalanta in the Serie A this season.

The Netherlands international has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.05 across 15 appearances in the Italian top flight. He has scored four goals and created 1.3 chances per match, whilst making 2.2 tackles and interceptions per outing and winning 50% of his physical duels.

Elliott, on the other hand, has created 0.9 chances and made just 1.0 tackles and interceptions per game in comparison, whilst losing 56% of his individual battles and scoring once.

Koopmeiners was once described as being "underrated" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also dubbed the €60m (£53m-rated) midfield general as being "elite" and an "orchestrator" with his statistics very much indicating that he could be an excellent signing for the Reds.

He could offer more than Elliott both in terms of his attacking contributions and the defensive work that he puts in out of positions, whilst also performing to a higher level week-in-week-out, which is why he would be a big upgrade on his fellow left-footed central midfielder.