Liverpool: Gini and Klopp’s positive talks – Player happy to stay at Anfield
If all goes well following positive talks with the Dutchman, Liverpool could see him stay beyond the summer and move forward in contract extension talks.
The situation of Georginio Wijnaldum and his contract standoff has been one that has dragged on for many months over the last couple of transfer windows. Failing to renew his Anfield stay has seen exit talks pick up with Barcelona the preferred destination.
This led to Jurgen Klopp having to talk to the player about his future, trying to see if he can change his mind and keep him at Liverpool for a longer period. The talks on Wednesday are said to have been quite assertive with the player now hoping he and the board can find a mutual consensus.
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"Georginio Wijnaldum has held positive talks with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp over his future at Anfield.The pair held a meeting on Wednesday concerning the prospect of him staying with the Reds.Wijnaldum wants to stay at Liverpool and hopes an offer of a contract extension from the club will be the result of a productive conversation with his manager, who is keen for him to stay. (Via: skysports.com)"
Over recent days the tune has changed as the player made it public that he never wanted to leave Merseyside. Adding to this, Klopp doesn’t want the player to leave either. The only concern for the Premier League winners is they do not want to lose him on a free next summer.
The player has entered the final 12 months of his contract and will be allowed to make pre-agreements with potential suitors in six months from now. Liverpool wants to cash in and not deal with the same problems they faced with Adam Lallana.
He left for Brighton on a free, gaining no funds to add to the transfer kitty for possible new incomings.
Don’t fix what is not broken
Jurgen Klopp knows keeping this side together is vital for the title-defending campaign. Having already lost Dejan Lovren to Zenit St Petersburg and Lallana to Brighton, there is two experienced players that have not been replaced.
And let’s face it, they might not have been regular first-team players over the last couple of seasons, but they both have played a part in the club’s success, in the Champions League winning run and the Premier League winning campaign.
Georginio Wijnaldum too played a massive role in Liverpool’s rise to the summit of English football and will surely be a tough act to follow. As the Reds bid for Thiago from Bayern Munich, many have pegged the Spaniard as Wijnaldum’s predecessor in the central area.
However, Liverpool legend Jamie Redknapp disagrees and sees a Liverpool squad with both men involved, not understanding why the Bundesliga winner must join at the expense of the Dutch international.
Jamie Redknapp on the Gini-Thiago dilemma:
"I love the way Wijnaldum plays. He always has such intensity that you’d hate playing against him, he’s always chasing after the ball and he uses it well.But if you weighed up that he could go for nothing next summer, and you brought in Thiago… to be honest, I’d look to have them both.Surely Liverpool don’t need to sell Wijnaldum to facilitate a move like that. If you can have them both, then why wouldn’t you? (Via: liverpoolecho.co.uk)"
If the Reds do manage to get Georginio to pen a new deal and recruit Thiago, it should be considered a great window for them. This is a prospect we can all get on board with and certainly want to see happen.
Well, at least not Gary Neville. He knows Liverpool will improve and become Liverpool 2.0 with him involved. He hates to see it transpire and wants Man United to step in.