Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Georginio Wijnaldum 'torn' on Liverpool future with agent key to Barcelona move
Georginio Wijnaldum faces an uncertain future at Liverpool with just one year left on his contract.
Liverpool: Steve Nicol urges club to keep Gini Wijnaldum
Georginio Wijnaldum will have his agent in his ear urging him to make "one more big move" with Barcelona keen to strike a deal, according to Jason McAteer. Liverpool ended a three-month transfer saga surrounding Thiago Alcantara's future by announcing a deal to sign the midfielder on Friday.
Any move for Thiago appeared as though it would be dependent on Wijnaldum's future at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp has insisted that is not the case, but the Liverpool boss now has an abundance of options for his midfield trio.
Jordan Henderson, Wijnaldum and Fabinho were the preferred starting three last season while Naby Keita was given the nod in their Premier League opener against Leeds.
Curtis Jones has also emerged as a star of the future while James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also vying for a starting spot in midfield.
JUST IN: Diogo Jota speaks for first time after joining Liverpool in £45m deal
Liverpool are expected to sell a number of players to help trim down Klopp's squad before the end of the window, with Ki-Jana Hoever departing to join Wolves with Diogo Jota heading in the opposite direction.
Rhian Brewster is also linked with a move away from Anfield but Wijnaldum's future remains unsolved.
Barcelona still hold a strong interest in signing the Holland international with Ronald Koeman keen to reunite with Wijnaldum.
McAteer wants Liverpool to hold on to the midfielder, but admits an offer from Barcelona may prove too good to turn down.
DON'T MISS
Diogo Jota shirt number: Liverpool target has perfect option available
Ozan Kabak to Liverpool: Schalke's stance on £23m transfer as Reds
Chelsea boss Lampard tipped to drop Kai Havertz for Liverpool clash
“I would love him [Wijnaldum] to stay. He’s one of those players Jurgen [Klopp] looks at as one of the first names on the team sheet," he told FreeSuperTips.
“He’s very industrious – maybe doesn't get as many goals as you'd probably like – but he does that job in the midfield, which is the engine room.
“Midfielders of his type win a lot of tackles as well as interceptions, and then go and give it to the players that do the damage, which is usually the front three.
“Thiago is probably more creative than any of the other players we've got, and there will be a place for him in certain games because teams like to drop.
“Teams will set out to ask questions of Liverpool, to break them down and try to create something, so Thiago would probably play in those kinds of games.
“Gini’s not getting any younger and is out of contract next season. From the player's perspective, Ronald Koeman’s gone in at Barcelona and he’ll know Gini extremely well from the Dutch set-up.
“He’s also won everything with Liverpool and his age now comes into effect. His agent is probably saying ‘You’ve got one more big move in your career. It’s Barcelona’. They're probably going to up his money.
“He’ll be torn at the minute. He doesn't want to leave Merseyside, but Liverpool’s offer on the table probably doesn’t quite meet Gini’s expectations.”