The former Arsenal star, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, believes that losing Wijnaldum this summer would be a blow for Liverpool.
Merson has raved about the 29-year-old midfielder and has outlined his importance in the current Reds’ team.
According to The Guardian, new Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman wants to sign Wijnaldum from Liverpool.
It has been further claimed that although the Reds are reluctant to sell the former Newcastle United midfielder, if they receive a sizeable offer for the Dutchman, then they could cash in on him.
Merson wrote in The Daily Star: “Liverpool would be mad to sell Georginio Wijnaldum – and he’d be mad to go! They’ve just won the league for the first time in forever, they won the Champions League. They’re one of the best teams around.
“And the days of Barcelona poaching your best players are gone. How long will it take them to get back to the top? If Liverpool let Wijnaldum go they would be losing one of their chief midfield players. That sends them backwards.
“The lad gets big goals and his workrate is immense. He is under-estimated in my opinion. Doesn’t get enough credit. That’s going to be a major blow if he leaves. Their midfield three won them the league. It gave the full backs a chance to bomb on and the front three confidence to play.
“They are the engine and Wijnaldum is a very important part of that. They work their socks off. They’re like a machine. They all know their role. It works. Don’t break it up.”
Liverpool exit?
Wijnaldum is out of contract at Liverpool at the end of the 2020-21 season, and from a business point of view, it would make sense to sell him now.
After all, if the Netherlands international midfielder does not sign a new contract, then he would leave the Premier League champions on a free next summer.
Liverpool could use the transfer fee from the potential sale of the Dutchman and invest in a new player or promote someone from the academy.
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