Coach says he is aware of Leeds’ reported interest in his £12m captain

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Arne Slot is aware of speculation linking Leeds United with a move for his captain Teun Koopmeiners but, speaking to De Gelderlander, AZ Alkmaar coach is confident that he will not leave before next week’s transfer deadline.

When the Eredivisie season was brought to a premature conclusion in April, and AZ were denied the chance to wrestle the title from Ajax’s grip, Slot and co might have feared that a rare opportunity had passed them by.

But the Cheeseheads have confounded the doubters and retained every member of perhaps the most exciting young squad in Dutch football, with Myron Boadu, Calvin Stengs, Marco Bizot and more sticking around for one more tilt at the title.

The same can be said of Koopmeiners, the £12 million-rated Dutch U21 international linked with a move to Elland Road via the Telegraph on Friday.

“I also read it (the reports) yesterday, but otherwise I don’t know anything about it,” says Slot, a promising young coach whose free-flowing 4-3-3 formation is influenced by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.

“As long as Max Huiberts (AZ technical director) does not inform me about it, (the interest) will not be very concrete.

“Of course it remains to be seen until October 5 if any players will leave us, but the last thing I’m working on is Leeds United’s interest in Teun Koopmeiners.”

Leeds’ interest certainly seems a little odd, given that Marcelo Bielsa’s side have already signed two technically gifted, deep-lying players capable of thriving in defensive midfield and at centre-half – Diego Llorente and Robin Koch.

Penalty specialist Koopmeiners scored a remarkable 16 goals last season (mostly from 12 yards) and was described by former ADO Den Haag coach Alan Pardew as ‘the best player in Holland in defensive areas’ (Mail).