Georginio Wijnaldum has been linked with a move to Barcelona (Getty Images)
According to Liverpool Echo, Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman admitted that the club wanted Georginio Wijnaldum this summer. Wijnaldum was a subject of interest from the Catalan club, with the player in his last year of the contract. With Thiago Alcantara arriving at Liverpool, it was expected the £75,000-a-week Wijnaldum would make way.
The 29-year-old Dutch midfielder started his youth career at Sparta Rotterdam in 1997 and moved to Feyenoord after 7 years. In the next few seasons, he progressed through the youth teams. Finally he was promoted to the senior side in 2007.
In 135 appearances, he scored 25 goals and assisted 11 goals (source – Transfermarkt) before leaving for PSV Eindhoven in 2011. He went on to make over 150 appearances for PSV. A surprise move to Newcastle followed in 2015. Despite Newcastle getting relegated at the end of the season, Wijnaldum returned to the Premier League with Liverpool in the following season.
He has made close to 200 appearances for the Reds, scoring 19 goals and assisting 16 more. The midfielder has scored some vital goals for Liverpool over the last few seasons like the brace in the second leg against Barcelona in 2019. He is a regular for the national team with 62 appearances and 15 goals to date.
Barcelona need a midfielder who can provide solidity in the middle of the park. With Busquets looking way past his prime, they need someone defensively solid. Barcelona are currently going through an overhaul and they need new players.
Wijnaldum is one of the best utility players available at this point. He can fit into a variety of midfield roles. Barcelona could use a player like that. There is also the added bonus of Wijnaldum already having played under Koeman for the Netherlands national team.
He should have no problems adjusting to the style of play. There are also the likes of Frenkie De Jong, who is his midfield partner in the national team. Barcelona should return for his signature in January or next summer. He would likely cost less given he is in his last year of his current contract. On the up, Geroginio Wijnaldum looks like a fantastic signing if Barcelona can pull it off.
