[ad_1]
As modern football has developed over the years, most of what is talked about is dominated by transfers. If that’s good for the game, you can have your own opinions on it. When it comes to Liverpool, transfers are often the main topic of conversation.
Last summer was destined to be when Jürgen Klopp dived into the market and significantly strengthened his squad, and possibly his first-choice starting lineup. That was definitely achieved with the arrivals of Thiago Alcântara, Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas, but there were some from various sectors who wanted more.
However, what is not talked about as often is the business that is not completed, that is, that certain players do not leave the club. In this case, keeping Gini Wijnaldum at Anfield may prove to be one of the best decisions of this summer.
Serious talks about a new contract have yet to begin, and with each passing day it seems increasingly unlikely that he will be allowed to leave the club as a free agent next summer. In just over two months, the Dutchman will be able to talk to clubs outside of England about a possible deal, but as long as he is a Liverpool player, there is no doubt that he will give everything for the club.
Even though the number of changes in the Liverpool squad compared to last season is not that drastic, it seems vital that the club kept Wijnaldum in the summer. There was allegedly interest from Barcelona, as coach Ronald Koeman, a fan of the midfielder, worked with him for the Dutch national team.
It remains to be seen if Wijnaldum moves to the Camp Nou next summer as a free agent. Given that he would have spent five years in his prime helping Liverpool rise to the top of world football, it seems only fair that he leave Anfield on his terms when the time comes.
The arrival of Thiago, from the start, could be a sign that Liverpool is already preparing for the departure of the Dutchman next summer. Given the current circumstances, it’s a good job that they’ve kept him for the rest of this season, at least.
Your content written from Liverpool, but done differently and straight to your inbox.
You know what it is about, which offers you the best in-depth, alternative and current content, but it also takes Liverpool, the Football Club and the city to wherever you are in the world.
If you’re too busy to scroll or search, simply sign up for our newsletter to receive your daily selection of written content, from transfers to tactics, delivered directly to your inbox. You will also receive a weekly summary personally written by the editor, as well as the opportunity to stay up-to-date with any of the latest offers and exclusives we have.
All angles of the champions covered.
For all Liverpool fans on the planet.
How do you register?
It’s easy and only takes a few seconds.
Just type your email address in the box at the top of this article and click “Subscribe.”
And that’s it, you are ready.
Virgil van Dijk’s injury certainly irritated and hurt everyone associated with Liverpool, and very few at the club would have been more affected than Wijnaldum. His partner has formed a close bond at Anfield, as well as with his national team, and he only has to watch their press conference before the game against Ajax to see how much the incident at Goodison Park affected him.
When dealing with adversity, it is important to have strong characters and leaders in the locker room to help guide the rest of the locker room through struggles. It especially helps when one of those players has been at Anfield for as long as Wijnaldum, and having the experience and character can only prove invaluable to Liverpool in the weeks and months to come.
Back on the field and the games will continue to come at a rapid pace from now until the New Year. Liverpool have already suffered from a series of injuries across their entire squad, so it remains vital that players keep their form as high as possible. Given the likes of Thiago, Naby Keïta, James Milner and Jordan Henderson struggle to stay fully fit for long periods of time, having someone like Wijnaldum whose track record is solid is an added bonus.
It must be said that the chances of Klopp allowing Wijnaldum to leave this summer were never likely, unless there was a very large offer on the table. As that did not happen, Liverpool rightly maintained control of the Dutchman, who will undoubtedly be a key player in the future, just as he has been for the past four years.
Where Liverpool will go in a world without Wijnaldum at the club remains a mystery. He was among the group of signings Klopp first brought to the club in 2016, and has played more minutes in midfield than any other player since. His importance to this team cannot be understated, and Klopp faces the important task of replacing him when that time comes, be it next summer or later.
There’s no question about Wijnaldum’s quality on the pitch, but at times like these, who he is as a person and as a player may prove to be just as important, if not more, down the road. Even though it looks likely to go free next summer, it’s better than receiving a relatively small fee for your services now and being tasked with replacing it without a plan in place.
[ad_2]
