Newcastle could turn to Teun Koopmeiners after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg snub
· Yahoo Sports
Eddie Howe is at St James’ Park. Newcastle United could turn their attention back to long-term target Teun Koopmeiners after suffering a major transfer setback in their pursuit of Olympique de Marseille midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, according to Tutto Juve.
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The Magpies were close to agreeing a fee of around €15m with Marseille for Hojbjerg. However, the 31-year-old Danish international rejected Newcastle’s offer, turning down a return to the Premier League as he considers other options.
Hojbjerg’s decision leaves Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle with a dilemma as the transfer window enters its final stages. Newcastle are under pressure to rebuild their midfield following high-profile departures earlier this summer, most notably Bruno Guimaraes’ £75m move to Arsenal and Sandro Tonali’s transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.
While Newcastle have brought in promising youngsters Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, there remains an urgent need for top-level midfield pedigree.
With Hojbjerg no longer an option, the Newcastle hierarchy are considering reigniting their pursuit of Juventus and Netherlands midfielder Teun Koopmeiners. The 28-year-old has long been admired by Newcastle scouts, who tracked him closely during his standout spell at Atalanta.
Koopmeiners is seen as an ideal tactical fit to anchor Jaissle’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system. Known for his passing range and set-piece quality, the Dutchman can operate as a deep-lying playmaker or a box-to-box presence. His ability to dictate tempo from deep would immediately elevate Newcastle’s midfield.
Prying Koopmeiners away from Turin will not come cheap, but Newcastle retain significant financial power following recent player sales. Juventus could be tempted to negotiate if a suitable offer arrives, allowing them to reinvest elsewhere in their squad.
With Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Liverpool at St James’ Park fast approaching, the club’s leadership know they cannot afford to start the campaign short in midfield. Turning to Koopmeiners would be a strong response to their recent transfer setback.