Dutch international reportedly open to Liverpool contract | OneFootball

Dutch international Gini Wijnaldum has reportedly opened the door to potentially signing a contract extension with Liverpool.

According to The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Wijnaldum has given Liverpool hope that he could remain at Anfield beyond the end of the season.

The report claims that Inter and Barcelona have registered interest in signing him as a free agent, although the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that he is struggling to generate sizeable offers.

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ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

If Wijnaldum signs a contract extension at Liverpool it could be a huge boost for the club, depending on his wage demands. Bayern Munich have reportedly dropped out of the race to sign him due to his ‘excessive’ salary demand, which means that he may want too much to be worth it for Liverpool. Wijnaldum turns 31 later this year and may not have too many seasons left at the top of his game. Therefore, handing him ridiculous money on a brand new contract may not be a smart business move by the club.

However, if Wijnaldum is willing to put pen to paper on an extension with the Reds that keeps his wage packet around the same as it is now or slightly higher, it could be a very shrewd deal. Wijnaldum has proven again this season that he is an important player for Jurgen Klopp, with 28 Premier League starts and keeping him at the club could aid their chances of competing again next season as he is a consistent presence in the midfield.

This means that the Dutch international could still be a useful player for a few seasons, albeit perhaps not deserving of the ‘excessive’ wage packet he is currently looking for. It now all comes down to what Wijnaldum wants in his next contract and which club he picks to continue his career with.