Negotiations between Liverpool and Barcelona are not yet at their ‘hottest point’, but Ronald Koeman is insisting they sign his compatriot.
That’s what Mundo Deportivo claim in their latest update on what is promising to be a major transfer saga this summer.
Wijnaldum has been heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp for the last few weeks, with it claimed that Koeman, who has worked with him on international duty with the Netherlands, is a big fan.
Those rumours have been roundly dismissed in England, with Wijnaldum himself refusing to comment on them yesterday.
It’s a situation that refuses to die in Spain, though, with several newspapers continuing to insist that the interest is there and a move could happen.
Mundo take that route today, stating negotiations between Liverpool and Barcelona are not yet at ‘their hottest point’ but Koeman is ‘very clear’ that Wijnaldum is a ‘fundamental piece’ for his Barcelona midfield and how he wants them to play.
They explain that he is ‘in love’ with his compatriot, who he is ‘totally convinced’ by having followed his career closely and been convinced by ‘his winning character’.
His belief is that with Ivan Rakitić leaving and Arturo Vidal also likely to go, Wijnaldum could be the midfielder to activate the ‘pressing’ he wants his team to do. Likewise, he could play a role in several formations, another plus point as far as the Barça boss is concerned.
Wijnaldum’s stance on a potential deal isn’t mentioned, although it is made clear his future with Liverpool is up in the air as his deal expires next summer and he has ‘not resolved’ that issue as yet.
Mundo make it clear it was claimed in Holland yesterday that a deal was ‘close’ with a fee that would not exceed €20m, but don’t offer whether their information corroborates that.
Their stance, it seems, is Koeman definitely wants him and negotiations between Liverpool and Barcelona are underway, which, as you’ll be aware, is the direct opposite of the reports from England.
