Liverpool midfielder demands more time, is yet to sign new tabled contract
A Liverpool midfielder has asked the club to give him more time to mull over a new contract deal offered to him, according to a report.
Georginio Wijnaldum was the subject of reports linking him with Barcelona earlier this year.
His contract runs out this summer and from January he can talk to potential suitors from abroad.
The 30-year-old has been offered a fresh deal by Liverpool but he is yet to sign it, the Guardian reports.
The source says he has now asked the club for more time to think about his future.
However, it states that Wijnaldum will let the Reds know of his decision first before potentially speaking to any clubs.
Jurgen Klopp is eager to keep hold of the Dutchman, who has played 22 times this season.
The source understands Liverpool handed him a new deal at the start of the month.
He is yet to sign on the dotted line, though, but a decision could be just around the corner.
As well as Barcelona, the Holland international has also been linked with a move to Inter Milan.
Wijnaldum arrived from Newcastle United for £23million in 2016 and has gone on to win the Champions League and Premier League.
Subscribe for free to TEAMtalk’s daily newsletter…
Defensive woes
Klopp is facing a defensive headache this week with yet another centre-half ruled out with injury.
Joel Matip limped off with an adductor problem in the draw to West Brom on Sunday.
He now joins Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez on the injury table.
Matip is set to undergo scans on Monday and is set to miss the game with Newcastle on Wednesday.
Klopp admitted that the defender’s injury is “not too good.”
Since his arrival on Merseyside in 2016, Matip has missed 61 games through injury.
Rhys Williams is now likely to start alongside makeshift centre-back Fabinho against the Magpies.
Nat Phillips and Billy Koumetio are the other two available centre-back options.