Liverpool’s Midfielder To Reunite With Coutinho As He Accepts 3-Year Deal With Barcelona: Report

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum reportedly has agreed to a three-year deal with FC Barcelona this summer.

Wijnaldum has played a vital role in Jurgen Klopp’s side that has won the Champions League, Premier League, Super Cup and Club World Cup over the last two seasons. He has one year left in his current deal but had no talks with Liverpool over an extension. It is believed that the club and the player have a difference of opinion regarding the terms of a new deal and hence, he is expected to leave the Anfield side.

There has not been a fallout between Wijnaldum and Klopp, who still values the Dutchman. It is understood that Klopp could consider losing the player for free next summer if he must.

The Catalans' new head coach Ronald Koeman managed the Netherlands national team before taking up Barcelona’s job. Under his management, Wijnaldum produced impressive performances helping Netherlands reach the final of the UEFA Nations League in 2019, where the side lost to Portugal.

Spanish publication SPORT has claimed that Koeman has been aware of Wijnaldum's intensions of not signing a new deal with Liverpool. Since the 29-year-old has refused to agree to Liverpool’s terms of a new deal, the Anfield side has advanced negotiations with Bayern Munich for the transfer of Thiago Alcantara, who is being seen as Wijnaldum’s replacement at Liverpool.

The SPORT report has revealed that Barcelona are certain they won’t have to shell out more than $23 million for signing Wijnaldum this summer. The La Liga side is expecting to acquire the player for around $17 million.

Wijnaldum, who began his soccer career as a winger, has now adapted his position toward the more defensive areas and Koeman is looking forward to having a versatile player like Wijnaldum in Barcelona’s midfield. If the deal goes through, Wijnaldum could reunite with his former Liverpool teammate Philippe Coutinho at Nou Camp.

Coutinho, who joined Barcelona from Liverpool in 2018, has returned to Nou Camp after his loan spell at Bayern Munich has ended. The Brazilian midfielder scored a brace and provided an assist in Bayern Munich’s 8-2 win over Barcelona at the quarter-final of the 2019-20 Champions League. The German side eventually won the championship.