John Aldridge has written in The Liverpool Echo that Georginio Wijnaldum holds all the cards in negotiations over a new contract with Liverpool.
The former Liverpool striker believes that Wijnaldum is having his best season for the Reds and has stepped up his game.
Aldridge has said that the 30-year-old midfielder has pushed Liverpool into a corner regarding his future.
The Netherlands international midfielder – who has been on the books of Liverpool since the summer of 2016 when he joined from Newcastle United for a transfer fee reported by BBC Sport to be worth £25 million – is out of contract at the defending English champions at the end of the season.
Aldridge wrore in The Liverpool Echo: “Gini Wijnaldum had another terrific game against Wolves and I think he’s having he’s having his best season yet for Liverpool.
“You sometimes see it when a player is in the last year of the contract that their performance levels rise and, while he has been pretty consistent generally, Wijnaldum does seem to have raised the bar this season.”
The striker added: “He’s in a very strong position now given his performances and consistency for club and country and if Liverpool want to keep him, they’re going to have to give him the money he wants or he’ll walk away and get it elsewhere, whether from Barcelona or whoever.
“It’s a tough one for Liverpool and the manager as Wijnaldum has turned 30 now and has pushed the club into a bit of a corner now but if they do decide to keep him it will show how much he means to the club.”
Dilemma for Liverpool
Wijnaldum is a very important player for Liverpool and is a regular in the starting lineup.
The importance of the Dutchman in manager Jurgen Klopp’s set-up cannot be undermined, but it must also be noted that he is now 30 years of age, meaning that he does not have much ‘resale/sale-on’ value.
From a sporting perspective, a new contract for the Dutchman makes sense, but from a business point of view, one can understand if Liverpool have reservations.
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