Liverpool's Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum leaves the pitch after being substituted off during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 23, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Georginio Wijnaldum inches closer to Barcelona move
Barcelona are close to coming to an agreement with another free agent as they met with a representative of former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
According to Sport, the group had a reunion in the offices of the Camp Nou. The meeting was originally thought to have been between club representatives and Ronald Koeman to decide on his future.
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That was not the case, however. Instead Laporta and Mateu Alemany met with Jan Kabalt, a Dutch lawyer.
The Dutch midfielder was also drawing interest from Bayern Munich but Wijnaldum prefers to play for Barcelona. His potential signing is also not linked to the continuity of Koeman as previously thought.
Wijnaldum joins the growing list of Barcelona free agent signings
Should both sides come to an agreement, Wijnaldum would join Eric Garcia, Sergio Aguero and possibly Memphis Depay in a long list of free agent signings.
The Catalan giants don’t have a lot of financial flexibility to pay huge transfer fees so they’ve had to resort to signings such as these. It’s something the likes of Juventus and Bayern Munich have done in the past to much success.
While no possible terms have been disclosed, it is believed Wijnaldum is set to sign a three-year deal and has also agreed to lower his wage demands.
The initial concerns when Barcelona were first linked with Wijnaldum was he would take playing time away from some of the younger players. That may no longer be the case if they decide to sell Sergi Roberto. The La Masia player’s contract ends in 2022 and Barcelona are unlikely to offer an extension.
Wijnaldum’s signing would bring experience to a relatively young midfielder excluding Sergio Busquets. It would also likely mean the end of Miralem Pjanic’s Barcelona tenure. A deal is expected to be agreed upon soon.
