Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has had ‘positive talks’ with Georginio Wijnaldum about his future at the club.
The understated midfielder has been a key ingredient in the Reds’ recent success, missing just one game last season as Klopp’s side won the Premier League title by 18 points. He also participated in the 2018 and 2019 Champions League finals.
Wijnaldum won Premier League and Champions League titles with Liverpool/Pool/Getty Images
Wijnaldum has a year left on his Anfield deal and talks over a contract renewal are yet to begin. Barcelona have recently been circling the former Newcastle man, who Blaugrana boss Ronald Koeman worked with during his time in charge of the Netherlands.
Klopp is keen for Wijnaldum to stay on Merseyside and, according to Sky Sports, the pair discussed their futures on Wednesday. Talks are understood to have been positive, which could reduce the chances of the 29-year-old playing for Barca.
The news is the latest blow in what has been a disastrous summer for the Catalan giants. After surrendering the La Liga title to Clasico rivals Real Madrid, they were then beaten 8–2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
It was one of the most humiliating results in the club’s history and represented the culmination of years of mismanagement on and off the pitch. After the disaster, the majority of the playing squad was put up for sale, with Lionel Messi even expressing his desire to leave the club.
Messi has since confirmed that he will stay at the club but it is still going to be a difficult season at the Camp Nou.
Meanwhile, it has been a fairly quiet summer in Liverpool. Apart from signing Kostas Tsimikas, the Reds are quietly preparing for their Premier League title defense which starts against Leeds United on Saturday.