Transfer guru outlines brinkmanship that could cost Liverpool millions

Georginio Wijnaldum’s ‘complicated’ contract situation could become ‘dangerous’ if Liverpool lose him for nothing, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Wijnaldum, 30, will be out of contract at the end of the season. The Reds want him to stay after his stellar contribution to their recent success.

The Netherlands international joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in the summer of 2016. Rarely injured, he has made 218 appearances in all competitions, scoring 22 goals, including 16 in the Premier League.

He has played in all 23 of the champions’ top-flight games in 2020-2021, starting 21. The Merseysiders offered him a new deal back in December but he has yet to put pen to paper.

Spanish giants Barcelona have been linked with a summer move for the former PSV man. And Romano feels the Liverpool powerbrokers need to act quickly to prevent such an important player leaving for nothing.

“We have always said that it’s complicated – really, really complicated,” he said on his ‘Here We Go’ podcast. “And, now, it’s way more complicated because when you arrive in February, the middle of the season, and you have no agreement it’s becoming more complicated and we can say also dangerous – because you are losing a top midfielder as a free agent.”

Midfielder’s future key to summer spending

Wijnaldum’s departure would likely see Klopp look to target a new midfielder in the off-season. He has been so important that it will be tough to find an instant replacement of equal standing.

There is still a chance that he will pledge his future to the club before the end of the campaign. But Romano believes it will take a change of mindset from the player for that to happen.

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“There is nothing signed yet with other clubs,” he added. “I always see rumours about Barcelona and many clubs, but there is nothing agreed or done.

“But, for sure, at the moment, there is no agreement between Wijnaldum and Liverpool.

“So, only if the player will change his mind about the economical part of the contract and he says, ‘OK, I want to stay in Liverpool because of my career and my family’ or these kinds of things – in this case, you have a chance to keep Wijnaldum.”

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma. The 24-year-old is a similarly robust player, with 21 league outings this term for the Seagulls.

He is valued somewhere between £30-£40million and it would be cheaper for the club to extend Wijnaldum’s contract.

 

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