The Sunday Times (subscription required) has recently reported that Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is set to join Barcelona this summer when his current contract at Anfield comes to an end. It has been revealed that the Reds midfield ace has agreed on a pre-contract deal with the Catalans and will seal a move to the Nou Camp at the end of this campaign (via The Sunday Times).
Wijnaldum’s Recent Form At Liverpool This Season
Wijnaldum is enjoying another solid season at Merseyside despite his team’s struggles to be consistent in terms of getting results on the field. The Dutch midfield ace has continued to be a regular feature for the Reds and has featured in 40 matches for Jurgen Klopp’s side this term, netting three goals in the process across all fronts.
However, the 30-year-old has struggled to be productive with his all-round efforts in midfield as he is averaging 0.7 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.8 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per 90 minutes in Premier League football. Still, Wijnaldum deserves credit for being accurate when distributing possession in the opposition half, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 92.3% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
With less than six months left to run in his Liverpool contract, Klopp will be desperate to get the best out of the player after the international break so that the Reds stand a chance of securing UEFA Champions League football for next season, either by finishing in the Premier League’s top four or winning the Champions League this season.
What Does The Dutch International Add To Klopp’s Team?
Wijnaldum excels at retaining possession in tight spaces and hardly gives away the ball. He can also link up play quite well with his teammates in the attacking third and has scored some important goals during his Liverpool career.
The 70-time Dutch international has done well to offer some much-needed protection for his teammates at the back by working his socks off in midfield. However, his lack of creativity has sometimes put the Reds at a disadvantage, which is one of the many reasons behind the Merseyside club’s poor run of results in this calendar year.
Wijnaldum Set To Join Barcelona: Massive Blow For The Reds?
Losing Wijnaldum to Barcelona will be a huge blow for the Premier League champions as he has been at the heart of every major success they have tasted in recent seasons. The Dutchman has been an unsung hero at the heart of the Liverpool midfield, so Klopp might find it difficult to bring in a replacement capable of filling Wijnaldum’s shoes at Anfield in this off-season.
However, with Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and James Milner still vying for a place in his first-team, the German head coach has got a strong core of midfielders already in his squad, which would somewhat soften the blow of losing Wijnaldum this summer.
