Klopp To Have Showdown Talks With $32M Midfielder, Who Is Barcelona’s Target: Report

Liverpool FC boss Jurgen Klopp is reportedly set to have showdown talks with Gini Wijnaldum over the midfielder’s future at Anfield.

Wijnaldum, who has been a core member of Klopp’s Liverpool that has tasted success over the last two seasons, has entered the final year of his current deal and is on the radar of FC Barcelona. It has been reported that Wijnaldum’s former international manager Ronald Koeman, who has signed a two-year contract with the Catalans as their new head coach, wants the Dutch midfielder at Nou Camp ahead of the 2020-21 season.

It was previously reported while Barcelona want Koeman to sign Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara, Koeman is keen on his compatriot Wijnaldum, who moved from Newcastle United to Liverpool in the summer of 2016 at a transfer fee of $32 million.

While there were rumors about a fall out between Klopp and Wijnaldum, it was recently cleared that the 29-year-old midfielder has not signed an extension yet because of a difference in opinion between the club and the player over the terms of a new deal.

Klopp is a big admirer of Wijnaldum and if it will be needed, he’ll let the Netherlands national see through his Liverpool contract and leave for free next summer.

Wijnaldum missed Liverpool’s recent pre-season matches as he was on international duty with the Netherlands side playing in the 2020-21 Nations League. The Dutch side kickstarted the tournament with a 1-0 win over Poland before they lost to Italy in their next fixture.

The former Newcastle midfielder, who is also part of the senior players’ committee at Liverpool, is expected to return to the Melwood training center Wednesday. Soccer media outlet Goal has claimed that Klopp is set to hold discussions with Wijnaldum over the latest interest of Koeman in signing the player for Barcelona as a part of their rebuilding.

Liverpool begin their Premier League defense by hosting Leeds at Anfield on Sept. 12. Leeds won the Championship last season and got promoted back to England’s top-flight league.