Wijnaldum Becomes Koeman's Main Target
JAKARTA - Barcelona's new manager, Ronald Koeman, did not wait long to be active in the transfer market. The former Dutch national team racist immediately made Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum the main target.
Launching Antara, Friday, August 21, Wijnaldum could be a target whose price does not increase considering that he has entered the last year of his contract with Liverpool.
Wijnaldum's contract at Liverpool expires next year and British media reports that until now the two parties have not started negotiations for a new contract extension.
Wijnaldum has indeed become one of Koeman's mainstays while handling the Dutch national team in 2018-2020.
In contrast to his role in Liverpool, Koeman has instructed Wijnaldum to appear more attacking in the Oranje squad. Evidenced by the score of eight goals throughout 2019 for the Netherlands.
What's more, if he moves to Barcelona, Wijnaldum will also side by side with Frenkie de Jong, who has often been his partner in the Dutch midfield.
Liverpool is not impossible to sell Wijnaldum at this time. Compared to next season when the 29-year-old midfielder's contract expires and he moved to Barcelona for free.
✍ @RonaldKoeman 💙❤️ #KoemanCuler pic.twitter.com/4XbZrHfQkr
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 19, 2020
What's more, a number of British media reports say Jurgen Klopp has been conditioned to reduce congestion in his midfield by club owners if they are to realize their main transfer target, Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara.
If Wijnaldum does move to Barcelona, it will be an interesting transfer move considering he was an important actor in the Reds' victory in the 2018/19 Champions League semifinals. At that time, he scored two goals against Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the second match at Anfield.