Antonio Conte Is 'Crazy' For Liverpool Star Who Now Has Agreement With Inter Milan: Report

Inter Milan have reportedly reached an agreement with Liverpool FC star midfielder Gini Wijnaldum, whose current deal with the Reds is due to expire at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Wijnaldum has long been linked with FC Barcelona, where he could reunite with former Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman. Inter Milan head coach Antonio Conte is "crazy" about Wijnaldum, who has refused to sign a new deal with Liverpool ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, reported by FC Inter News.

Even though Wijnaldum's salary demands of $12 million a year seem out of reach for Inter Milan, the Nerazzurri already have an agreement with the player, according to soccer website Teamtalk. Having played in Holland and England, Wijnaldum has never played in Italy but it is believed that the 30-year-old midfielder is open for a new challenge.

Meanwhile, Inter are on the lookout to bolster their squad ahead of the 2021-22 season, and Wijnaldum has been identified as a major target.

After 24 matches into the 2020-21 Serie A season, Inter Milan are four points clear at the top of the table.

Ahead of the recently concluded January transfer window, it was reported that Inter Milan would join Barcelona in the race to sign Wijnaldum. But that did not happen.

Wijnaldum, who has played nearly all the games for Jurgen Klopp's side in the underway campaign, has demanded a four-year contract. Considering the Dutchman will move to Inter Milan as a free agent, the deal seems like an economical one for the San Siro club, the FC Inter News reported.

The Netherlands midfielder's first season in the Premier League was with Newcastle United, where he had joined ahead of the 2015-16 season. He scored 11 goals in 38 league games that season but his side was relegated into the Championship. However, he had impressed several clubs with his one year in the English top-flight league and was signed by Liverpool at a fee of $34 million.

He played a crucial role in Liverpool's success over the last couple of years, winning the Champions League, Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. Since his arrival at Anfield in the summer of 2016, Wijnaldum has made 222 competitive appearances, scoring 22 goals and providing 16 assists, across all competitions.