Journalist Ian Doyle says he’d be ‘pleasantly surprised’ if Gini Wijnaldum signed a new contract with Liverpool. The Dutchman has under a year to run.
The Liverpool Echo’s Chief Liverpool reporter Ian Doyle held a Q&A for their site on Tuesday where he addressed various topics. One fans asked if Wijnaldum would sign a new contract.
“I would be pleasantly surprised if he signs one,” Doyle replied. “Wijnaldum is very underrated in my view and is important in that midfield.”
The journalist went on to say that if the Dutchman moved on in this window, he’s ‘sure Liverpool will have plans to strengthen their midfield’.
What RTK has to say
It’s telling that Doyle mentions ‘surprise’ at the idea of Wijnaldum signing a new contract. He’s reputable, as far as we’re concerned, so we can assume that it’s far more likely that the player leaves.
When? We’re not sure. It could be at the end of the season, of course, if potential suitors wait to negotiate in January. They’d get him for free and have months to prepare.
The other option is that someone puts up the cash now to get it done. You’d imagine it’s the option Liverpool would prefer, too.
It would secure a transfer fee and, if reports are correct, allow Liverpool to sign Thiago from Bayern Munich. Both are big plus-points in our book.
And as the report says above, Barcelona supposedly want Wijnaldum. Appointing Ronald Koeman only intensifies links, too, given Wijnaldum’s success under him for the National Team.
But what matters more to them? Is it the money? Or getting him in quick? We simply don’t know the answer to that one, unfortunately. Although, recent developments might help that one along.
What we do know, though, is that it looks increasingly unlikely that Wijnaldum will play more than one more season in Red.
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