LFC Daytrippers contributor Grizz Khan has been discussing the situation regarding Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
The Reds signed Wijnaldum from Newcastle United back in 2016 in a deal reportedly worth £24.75m (as per Transfermarkt.co.uk). Since swapping Tyneside for Merseyside, the player has appeared 187 times for the Anfield club, scoring 19 goals and providing 16 assists.
He’s won a UEFA Champions League with Jurgen Klopp’s side and more recently, he became a Premier League champion (via Transfermarkt.co.uk) but with his contract due to expire at the end of next season and no sign of an extension being agreed, his future was a discussion point on this latest edition of the podcast. Here is Khan’s take on the situation:
“A conversation had to be had about Gini because we did offer him a deal. Absolutely, he is [within] his right to refuse that, because FSG have got him on a cheap wage – £70k a week, I believe – and that’s nothing in this day in age for a player like Gini.
“Now it came [to the time] for a new extension, Gini expected to, minimum, double that but we’re not prepared to double it taking everything into consideration.
“The fact of the matter is Gini has refused to extend; we have offered him a deal. Now, out of the press, we’re finding out that talks have stalled. And the reason for those talks to have stalled is because we are thinking ahead, we’ve noticed Thiago running into a similar situation with Bayern where he’s being offered, and [Jurgen] Klopp has blatantly had a word with Thiago to say, ‘hold your horses, I want to bring you to Liverpool.’
“I still think Gini doesn’t want to leave Liverpool. He’s entitled to go out on his terms, and no-one would begrudge him that, but this is where we become a bit ruthless. It’s just a business decision.”
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TIF Thoughts…
Based on the podcaster’s comments, we can assume he suspects the end of the £36m-rated midfielder’s Liverpool career is just around the corner. The Dutchman made 35 appearances in the Premier League last season and his average performance rating was 6.81/10 (as per WhoScored.com).
Thiago’s rating in the German top-flight last season was superior, 7.47/10 and therefore it could be argued that he would be an upgrade on many, if not all of Jurgen Klopp’s current midfield options. Perhaps the club’s reported interest in bringing the Spaniard to Anfield has made them reluctant to make the former PSV Eindhoven man the kind of offer that would see him commit his future to the Reds.