Liverpool are reportedly close to agreeing a contract extension with midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona.
According to Spanish publication Todo Fichajes, Premier League champions, Liverpool are close to reaching an agreement with midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum over a new contract.
The Dutchman has been with the Reds since 2016, having arrived from Newcastle United. Over the years, he has grown into a key cog in the midfield engine room for Jurgen Klopp’s men, playing an important role in the recent success that the team has achieved.
However, over the past few months, Wijnaldum’s future at the club has been called into question with the midfielder in the final year of his contract. In fact, the Dutchman has been heavily linked with a move to La Liga heavyweights Barcelona for quite some time now.
Indeed, reports had gone as far as to claim that the Blaugrana had already reached a pre-contract agreement with the 30-year-old over a transfer in the summer when his contract expires. However, it seems like that may not be the case, with Liverpool supposedly closing in on securing his future at Anfield.
As per the aforementioned report, Wijnaldum, despite having already rejected two contract offers from Liverpool, hopes to stay at the Merseyside club and is hoping for a better deal from the Reds. The club itself is aiming to convince the 30-year-old to further his stay by offering him improved terms than the ones that were rejected.
Despite Wijnaldum being free to negotiate with clubs from abroad over a pre-contract agreement, the midfielder’s agent has given Liverpool the preference. As a result, it is expected that the two parties will soon arrive at an agreement likely by April, which would see the Netherlands international put pen to paper on a three-year contract.
This development ought to come as a big blow for Barcelona. The Catalans’ finances have been struck hard by the pandemic, leaving them to scour the market for free transfers. And Wijnaldum, given his contract situation, proven pedigree and his history with manager Ronald Koeman, would have been a fine addition to the ranks at Camp Nou.
However, that move might not come to a reality at the end of the campaign, with the former Newcastle United man now likely to sign an extension with the reigning Premier League champions.
