Jurgen Klopp will speak to Gini Wijnaldum on Wednesday about his long career at Liverpool, according to reports. The Dutch midfielder followed by Barcelona will return to Merseyside after betting on the Dutch striker in his club’s first Premier League game against Leeds United this weekend.
Wijnaldum played the 90 minutes of the Netherlands’ victory over Poland and the Nations League loss to Italy alongside his Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk.
The Barcelona player Frenkie de Jong will play one of the two games in their entirety and the former head of the Dutch team Ronald Koeman is willing to pair his two compatriots at the Camp Nou.
Koeman took over at Barça last month after Quique Setien was fired and the 57-year-old needs to make his mark on the team.
He knows Wijnaldum well after being the head coach of the Netherlands for two years, leading them to the Nations League final in June 2019 to lose to Portugal and overseeing their qualification for a first tournament. primary since the 2014 World Cup.
The 29-year-old midfielder has emerged as number 10 for his country after scoring 18 times in 64 games, one less than he has controlled in 187 games for Liverpool.
He plays a more reserved box-to-box role under Klopp at Anfield, but Germany’s most used midfielder last season, making 47 appearances in all competitions.
Still, Wijnaldum is in the last 12 months of his contract and talks about an extension have stalled. Although the player is one of his coach’s favorites, the discussions have been reopened.
Wijnaldum has spent 4 years in Liverpool since moving from Newcastle for £ 25 million, as is, he will be allowed to go loose in 2021.
However, Barca coach Koeman has suggested to the board of the Catalan giants that he rush to find his compatriot this summer, even if the La Liga aspect will have to pay a fee.
The Daily Star says Klopp will have a meeting with Wijnaldum on Wednesday at the club’s educational base in Melwood to discuss what will happen next ahead of Liverpool’s new league season opener against newly promoted Leeds. Saturday (start at 5. 30 pm).
Asked about Barça’s interest in a press convention on duty, the winner of the Champions League and the Premier League replied: “It’s a rumor, I have nothing to say about it. “
And when asked about Koeman’s march to Catalonia, he added: “Of course it is a shame that he left, but we are also very satisfied for him.
“It can be when you’re on that stage as a player. But we have to move on now. “
The Sunday Mirror claimed this weekend that the Wijnaldum all-rounder, capable of being deployed in roles in the middle of the park, would charge Barca around £ 15 million.
If the player moves to Spain, Liverpool can look to make a move for Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara to update him.
Klopp has been linked to the signing of the 29-year-old former Barça player, whose contract with the German champions expires next summer.
Bayern’s value, which is just under £ 30 million, has so far proven prohibitive, despite Liverpool having only signed one signing this summer of left-back Kostas Tsimikas, whose £ 11. 75 million arrival was offset with Dejan Lovren’s move of £ 10. 9 million. to Zenit. St. Petersburg.
When asked about Thiago in July, Klopp called Spain a “great player. “
And last month he added about the midfielder: “There are a lot of attractive players, but if he attracts us I can’t say for now.
“Because of Covid-19, you have to think five times about what you can and what you do.
“We have to pay attention to the monetary aspect. We don’t know how much money will come in.
“Nobody knows, but it seems that others have a more positive aspect of the future . . . if you look at Chelsea, for example [laughs].
“But I’m very satisfied with my team at the moment. If a transfer happens, we have to see. “
However, despite Klopp’s shyness in answering questions about recent transfers, Liverpool legend Graeme Souness suspects his former club could make another addition.
The former Reds captain and manager told Sky Sports: “I think that tells you something. I think Jurgen will have to feel like he has players following the formula to fill in the gaps when existing players go down.
“Going back to my time as a player there, Liverpool bought players when they were most sensitive from the pile.
“You were buying players at this point where you don’t know if they will come in and be an instant hit.
“I in recent history or Fabinho and Andy Robertson were that where they were brought to the club, they saw what they had to offer, they were well incorporated into the formula when they were introduced.
“So I think it would be a real vote of confidence for the young players of the football club if they don’t buy. “
“But I have a devious feeling that they can still see someone. “