Inter Milan To Compete With Barcelona In Race To Sign Liverpool's $33M Midfielder: Report

Inter Milan reportedly have joined FC Barcelona in the race to sign Liverpool FC's Gini Wijnaldum ahead of the January transfer window.

The Serie A club has "activated" its interest in Wijnaldum and has been in regular contact with the player's representatives, reported Italian soccer media outlet FC Inter News.

Wijnaldum's current deal with Liverpool is due to expire in the summer of 2021, and the Dutchman is far from signing an extension. Even though Jurgen Klopp has said multiple times that he would like the player to stay, Liverpool have not offered Wijnaldum, who will turn 31 next year, a new deal. The Netherlands midfielder moved from Newcastle United to Liverpool in a $33 million transfer deal ahead of the 2016-17 season.

At the 2020 summer transfer window, Wijnaldum was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona after the club appointed former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman as their new manager. Koeman is a huge admirer of Wijnaldum after the two worked together in the Dutch national team between 2018 and 2020. Due to Barcelona's ongoing financial crisis, the club failed to make a concrete offer to Wijnaldum, who is set to see through his contract at Liverpool. However, the talented midfielder remains one of Barcelona's key targets ahead of the upcoming transfer market.

Wijnaldum, who has helped Liverpool win the Premier League, Champions League, Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup over the last two years, reportedly will ask Inter Milan for a four-year contract and a wage comprising of "top figures." The Inter News report also stated that it was unclear whether Inter will be able to meet those requests.

Inter Milan reportedly have decided to sell Christian Eriksen at the January transfer window and that would make space in the club's budget. Eriksen, who moved from Tottenham to Inter Milan earlier this year, has struggled to fit in under Antonio Conte at San Siro Stadium. Sky Sports has reported that Eriksen could leave Inter Milan on loan because of his high wages and the fact that he still has three years left on his current contract.

It was earlier reported that Klopp is eyeing Lillee midfielder Renato Sanches if Wijnaldum leaves Anfield shortly. It is believed that even if Wijnaldum secures a January deal with another club, the midfielder will leave Liverpool only at the end of the ongoing campaign.