Transfer Centre

Liverpool 'have not bid for Serie A midfielder' despite agreement claims

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 07 June 2024

Liverpool reportedly have no interest in a deal for Atalanta BC midfielder Ederson following claims that an agreement in principle was close.

Liverpool reportedly have not made any bid for a highly-rated Serie A midfielder after claims were made that an agreement between the two parties was close.

Atalanta BC's Ederson was a fundamental cog in Atalanta's Europa League-winning machine in the 2023-24 season, as La Dea defeated a hitherto invincible Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the final.

The Brazilian completed the full 90 minutes for Gian Piero Gasperini's side in the Dublin final, where Atalanta's intense midfield press played a key role in their unexpected beating of the Bundesliga champions.

Ederson contributed a total of seven goals and one assist from 53 matches across all competitions during the 2023-24 campaign, operating as both a box-to-box midfielder and deep-lying lynchpin.

The 24-year-old's exploits naturally attracted interest from the Premier League, and on Thursday evening, SPORTS ZONE reported that he was on the verge of reaching an agreement in principle with the Reds.

⚡️FLASH ZONE ⚽️

Éderson est proche d'un accord de trouver un accord de principe avec Liverpool ! 🇧🇷💫

Le brésilien a été suivi presque toute la saison par les Reds.

Le Paris Saint-Germain le suit mais il n'y a encore rien de concret à date. pic.twitter.com/AP1HQ3Voaz
— SPORTS ZONE (@SportsZone__) June 6, 2024

The fee would have supposedly been in excess of £40m, and Liverpool were rumoured to have pipped French champions Paris Saint-Germain to the signing of the ex-Salernitana man.

However, it did not take long for such speculation to be debunked, as This Is Anfield reports that the Reds have not even made an offer to Atalanta for Ederson's services.

Moreover, the Reds are supposedly not even actively pursuing a deal for Ederson, who does not feature high on the list of their midfield targets for the summer window.

The news comes after links with Porto's Alan Varela were shot down earlier this week, as the Reds were said to have been considering triggering his £51.3m release clause, but club sources have denied such claims.

Ederson's contract with Atalanta still runs for another three years, and the Brazil international - who is in his nation's squad for the Copa America - boasts a total of eight goals and two assists in 90 appearances for La Dea.

Liverpool to move for former Arne Slot midfielder?

Atalanta BC's Teun Koopmeiners reacts in September 2023 © Reuters

While reports linking Liverpool with Ederson are now understood to be wide of the mark, the Reds have been tipped to make a move for one of his Atalanta teammates for a number of weeks now.

Dutchman Teun Koopmeiners put several interested parties on red alert earlier in the spring, claiming that he had submitted a transfer request to his current club amid suggestions that Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea were all in for him.

Juventus were also credited with an interest in Koopmeiners, but the Old Lady have apparently shelved their plans to pursue the 26-year-old until they can make some sales, boosting Liverpool's prospects of striking an agreement.

Koopmeiners worked under new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot during their time together at AZ Alkmaar, and signing a new defensive midfielder is thought to be high on the Dutchman's agenda for his first summer transfer window.

However, the Reds are also intent on bringing in a new centre-back and potentially a new winger for the 2024-25 season, as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah will soon enter the last year of their deals.