In a recent tweet, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has offered an update on Barcelona‘s pursuit of Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum this summer. It is understood that the Reds midfield ace, who will become a free agent soon, is close to signing for the Catalans and would pen a contract that will keep him at the Nou Camp until the summer of 2024.
Barcelona plans on free agents 📑🔴
– Gini Wijnaldum is now close to sign until June 2024. He received approaches from PSG and Bayern but no agreement.
– Sergio Agüero: done deal.
– Eric Garcia: done deal.
– Depay: Barça made their proposal, waiting for Memphis final answer.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 25, 2021
Wijnaldum’s Underwhelming Season At Anfield
Wijnaldum has experienced a long and gruelling campaign with the Reds as he has struggled to find consistency with his performances in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield. The Dutch talent has been involved in 51 matches for the Merseyside outfit this term, scoring three goals in the process across all fronts.
The 30-year-old has failed to perform at a high level based on his average of 0.6 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.4 clearances, 0.8 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per game in the Premier League this season. However, he has been excellent when distributing possession from midfield after making 92.7% of his attempted passes in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
Wijnaldum is set to become a free agent at the end of next month and will be free to join Barca in search of a new challenge in the coming seasons. His excellent work ethic and winning mindset make him a decent option for Ronald Koeman’s side this summer.
Will Wijnaldum Be A Good Signing For Barca?
Wijnaldum can be a hard man to dispossess at the centre of the park as he has got excellent ball control and strength that allows him to get out of tight spaces when needed. However, the Netherlands international has often been guilty of playing it safe when it comes to his passing in the final third.
Barca will do well to bring Wijnaldum on board this summer as he will have no problem settling into Ronald Koeman’s playing style, having played under the Dutch manager at the international level. At 30, Wijnaldum still has a lot of football left in his locker and could prove to be a decent signing for them as he will be available as a free agent.
If Koeman plays his cards right, recruiting Wijnaldum could go a long way in helping him build a strong team capable of challenging for the league title in the upcoming campaign. The Liverpool star will undoubtedly add plenty of quality to Barca’s midfield department and could also help Koeman convince his countryman Memphis Depay to make a switch to the Nou Camp in this off-season.
