Real, Barca Chasing $32M Midfielder Who Could Be Offered 40% Raise By Liverpool

Liverpool FC are reportedly planning to offer a new deal to Gini Wijnaldum, who is being chased by FC Barcelona and Real Madrid ahead of the January transfer window.

Wijnaldum, who is currently leading the Netherlands in the absence of their regular skipper Virgil van Dijk, is contracted with Liverpool until 2022. While it was earlier believed Jurgen Klopp was going to let the midfielder leave as a free agent at the end of the ongoing season, Italian media firm Calciomercato has revealed Liverpool are preparing a new three-year deal for the 30-year-old and the new contract could see Wijnaldum’s salary raise by 40%, meaning the Dutchman will earn nearly $5.2 million a year.

After failing to sign Wijnaldum at the recently ended summer market, Ronald Koeman wants to bring the stand-in Netherlands national team’s captain to Camp Nou in January, but the Catalans will fight with Real Madrid in the transfer, according to SPORT via Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport.

Wijnaldum played under Koeman for the Dutch side during the latter’s stint as the Netherlands head coach between 2018 and 2020. When Koeman took over Barcelona’s managerial job ahead of the current season, the Liverpool player was one of Koeman’s top targets at the summer transfer window along with Lyon forward Memphis Depay. However, due to Barcelona's financial crisis infused by the COVID-19, the former La Liga champions could not sign either of the two.

The Calciomercato report also revealed Serie A club Inter Milan are also interested in the services of Wijnaldum, who scored in the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Poland in the Nations League on Wednesday.

Wijnaldum joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in the summer of 2016 for a transfer fee of $33 million.

Since his debut, the midfielder has represented Liverpool 199 times in all competitions, while he has been a key member in the Reds squad that has won several laurels including the Champions League and Premier League over the last two years.