Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman spoke to Dutch outlet NOS about his wish to sign Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnadum in this summer’s transfer window.
The Reds midfielder is in the final year of his contract and there was a lot of speculation surrounding his future. Koeman’s appointment as Barca boss fueled the rumours over a move to Camp Nou, but nothing materialised.
Wijnaldum is still a Liverpool player and it looks like he will leave Anfield on a free next summer. The Dutchman has been excellent for the Reds since his £25 million move from Newcastle United in the summer of 2016 (BBC).
The 29-year-old has played 192 times for Liverpool so far, and has played a key part in Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League crowns over the last two years.
Jurgen Klopp loves Wijnaldum but he isn’t the only one. Koeman, who managed the midfielder in the Dutch national team, is a huge fan as well, and he has admitted that he wanted to sign the Liverpool star this summer.
He said: “Hopefully, we will have a second Dutchman (Lyon’s Memphis Depay) in my squad (soon). Georginio Wijnaldum was on my list [too].”
It will be interesting to see if Barcelona try to get Wijnaldum for cheap in January. The winter transfer window will be Liverpool’s last chance to make any money off their midfielder, which makes a deal very likely.
However, the Dutchman is a key part of this Reds side and, unless he forces a move out of Anfield, it is likely that he will see out his contract and leave on a free transfer at the end of this season.
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