Barcelona have offered Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum a long-term contract according to a report from Football Insider.
The report claims the Catalan giants, managed by the 30-year-olds former national team coach Ronald Koeman, have stepped up their attempts to land the Dutchman as he entered the final months of his deal on Merseyside.
Despite an apparent desire to tie Wijnaldum down to a new deal, there has been no agreement reached and the reliable ace looks destined to leave at the end of the season.
Barca have been among the favourites for Wijnaldum’s signature ever since his future began to look uncertain, with Inter Milan also in the mix.
This week in the build-up to Liverpool’s successful RB Leipzig clash, the Holland star said he would be ‘devasted’ should he have to leave the Reds at the end of the season.
Former Anfield favourite, Danny Murphy, recently suggested a move to Barcelona would be regarded as a ‘dream’ for Wijnaldum, who could follow in the footsteps of legendary compatriot Johan Cruyff at the Camp Nou.
L4L’s VIEW
Truthfully, the writing has seemed to have been on the wall for some time on this one.
It has always seemed as though Wijnaldum would leave at the end of the season, with Barcelona the most likely destination.
This season has proved the 30-year-old still has a major part to play in Jurgen Klopp’s plans, billed as the most consistent performer by his manager and certainly the most reliable in terms of availability.
Playing devil’s advocate, however, having signed Thiago last summer, at full strength, the Reds squad is relatively well-stocked in the midfield department and losing the Dutchman may not be a catastrophe.
Perhaps the hardest pill to swallow would be seeing a player valued at £36m walk away for nothing.
Regardless of the outcome, Wijnaldum has been a superb servant to Liverpool Football Club, playing 225 times and was a major part of some of the greatest nights in the club’s history, one of which came against his potential new employers.
