In a recent report, The Daily Mirror has mentioned that Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is stalling over a new contract with his current deal at Anfield set to expire at the end of this campaign. It is understood that the Reds playmaker is yet to make up his mind over his long-term future at Merseyside but has promised the club that he would inform them of his decision before talking to other clubs in January (via The Daily Mirror).
Wijnaldum’s Impressive Form In The Premier League This Season
Wijnaldum has made a strong start to this campaign after putting in a run of dominant displays at the centre of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield. He has made 22 appearances for the Merseyside outfit this term, scoring one goal for them in the process on all fronts.
The Rotterdam-born talent has done well to influence the game at both ends of the field as he is averaging 0.8 tackles, 0.9 interceptions, 0.8 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per game in the Premier League. The 30-year-old has also been excellent when distributing the ball from midfield based on his pass success rate of 92.3% in league football (stats via whoscored).
With Wijnaldum’s contract set to run out at the end of this campaign, it is no surprise that Liverpool are desperate to tie him down to a new deal as he has proven himself to be one of the most valuable players in Klopp’s first-team.
What Does The Dutch International Bring To The Table?
Wijnaldum is quite fluid in how he operates in the middle of the park and can keep possession moving without breaking a sweat. He has also got a great work ethic and is usually quite effective when leading the Liverpool press in midfield.
The Dutch talent can also contribute by scoring some important goals in the final third. However, he can sometimes lack the creativity to unlock the opponent’s defence which has sometimes cost his team a few good results in the recent past.
What Should Be Jurgen Klopp’s Play Here With Regards To Wijnaldum’s Contract Situation?
For now, Klopp has no option but to be patient and hope that Wijnaldum decides to pen a contract extension sooner rather than later. Otherwise, he would have to find a suitable replacement when he leaves as a free agent next summer.
Either way, Liverpool have enough strength in depth to cope with Wijnaldum’s absence. However, Klopp does not have too many players in his squad who are as consistent as the Dutchman is for his team week in week out.
At 30, Wijnaldum still has plenty of football left in his locker to play at a high level. Therefore, the Reds should prioritise on trying everything they can to convince the player to stay beyond the end of this campaign.
