Liverpool Echo journalist Matt Addison discussed all the latest Liverpool news on a recent edition of the Blood Red podcast’s Morning Bulletin and the Reds reporter spent some time talking about the future of Georginio Wijnaldum during the show.
With less than a year remaining on his current deal at Anfield, Wijnaldum has been linked with a move away from Merseyside during the current transfer window, with Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona said to be interested in signing the 29-year-old Dutchman.
During this recent edition of the Blood Red podcast’s Morning Bulletin, Addison shed some light on the latest with regard to Wijnaldum’s potential departure from Anfield amid these links with Barcelona.
He said: “Apparently, Gini Wijnaldum is going to hold talks with Jurgen Klopp once he’s back from international duty with the Netherlands.
“There’s no sign, at this stage, that he will leave, or that he’s pushing to leave, we do believe that Barcelona are keen on him and Ronald Koeman, of course, his former Netherlands manager, would like to take him to Barcelona.
“There is a decision to be made. I think Liverpool are happy for him to stay. I think Wijnaldum will only leave this summer if he really pushes to go to Barca, but at this stage, there are no talks either way for that transfer to take place or for him to sign a new deal.
“So, I think it’s a difficult situation, really, for Liverpool. I think if he does stick around, there’s no sort of idea that he wouldn’t play or anything like that.
“He is a crucial player, so there is still a good chance that he will stick around, I think Liverpool would prefer not to lose him, of course, on a free transfer next summer, but I would imagine that that would be the preferred option at this stage to lose him then, rather than sell him now on a cheaper deal. ”
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TIF Thoughts…
As can be seen in what the Liverpool Echo journalist had to say, it appears as though Liverpool do not intend to sell Wijnaldum in the current transfer window and they would seemingly prefer to retain his services for the 2020/21 campaign and lose him on a free transfer next summer when his deal expires, rather than sell him now for less than what the club believe he is worth.
Wijnaldum, who is currently valued at £36m according to Transfermarkt, did play an important role for the Reds in their Premier League title-winning season last term, as he featured in 37 of their 38 league fixtures, starting 35 of those games.
Only three players made more league appearances than the Dutchman made for the Reds last season and with that in mind it may be understandable why Liverpool might want to hold onto him for the 2020/21 season and risk losing him for free next summer, rather than sell him in the current transfer window and risk not being able to adequately replace such a prominent member of their squad before the Premier League transfer window closes on 5th October.