Scout Report: Teun Koopmeiners

The 2021 Summer transfer window is set to be an exciting one, perhaps none more so than for Aston Villa. The Villans have had a great campaign - from miraculously avoiding relegation in the previous campaign to starting the current season with the hopes and aspirations of joining Europe’s elite.

With the European dream looking a little more remote by the week, who could Villa sign to potentially help them cross the threshold into Europe?

One such player could be AZ Alkmaar’s, Teun Koopmeiners.

The 23-year-old is already the captain of his club, which would add more leadership across the team and provides a commanding presence in midfield that could help transition play more effectively. Also, as a central defensive midfielder, the Dutchman can play a variety of other positions, including at center-back. This would be effective in the unlikely absence of vice captain, Tyrone Mings, due to him being left footed. Koopmeiners could provide flexibility to a side that has been missing exactly that.

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The Dutch international has made 28 appearances for AZ in the current Eredivisie campaign and has played almost every single minute of football possible across all competitions. It is also clear that Koopmeiners would not just add midfield robustness – goal scoring is a surprising strength that he has in his arsenal, scoring fifteen goals in league play this season - a truly incredible, especially when you consider that this total will surpass some strikers tallies.

The Dutchman has also partnered this goal tally with five assists in the Eredivisie, meaning that not only will he provide excellent defensive acumen for the Villa midfield, but he will also add threat in the attacking phase of play with further creativity that is certainly required if Villa want to be in the upper reaches of the Premier League table next term.

Could Koopmeiners be Villa’s equivalent to goal scoring midfielder, Tomas Soucek?

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Koopmeiners has also been effective in the Europa League for AZ, scoring a goal as well as providing two further assists. This could be key given that he has previous pedigree of performing within the competition Aston Villa are so desperate to qualify for.

It is also especially important to consider that in the Eredivisie, he has been involved in 30% of AZ Alkmaar’s league goals this season. Plus, when you add this to the fact that he is involved in 42% of the club’s goals in Europe, you get a taste of how influential he is for the Dutch club and more excitingly, how influential he could be if he made the move to Villa Park.

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His career total makes for an interesting read too, as over the whole span of his young career, he has made 111 senior appearances within which he has racked up 35 goals as well as 15 assists; further proving that the numbers he has put up in the current campaign are no fluke.

Koopmeiners, in my view, is a player that Villa should be taking a very good look at as a potential signing. He also fits the club’s philosophy of signing young players to develop with the team, which makes this look like an easy choice.

With his current contract set to expire in 2023, the Dutchman’s value in the current transfer market is thought to be ranging from £15m to £30m - a very reasonable fee and for the qualities he could bring to Smith’s Villans, could be an inspired signing.

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