Former Liverpool footballer Steve Nicol has laughed off suggestions that the Premier League leaders could listen to offers for midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum following reports indicating he could be sold.
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According to The Athletic, Wijnaldum has just 18 months left on his current deal and Liverpool would be ‘content’ with the Dutchman leaving on a free upon its expiry in 2021.
While it is thought that Liverpool’s least desired option is to sell the 29-year-old, Nicol told ESPN FC that talk of letting the midfielder go ‘makes no sense’, though suggested a worst-case scenario would see the Reds recruit an even better talent.
A shocked Nicol said: “Well, the suggestion is that they’re not going to offer him a contract – that makes no sense whatsoever.
“He’s been a huge part of the success of Liverpool over the last 18 months to two years. So I would suggest this is absolutely crazy.
“If you’re going to let him leave, that means that you’re going to have to bring somebody in better than him, which is great news for Liverpool fans.
“But you’re also going to give him a contract because you’re not going to let him go for free – because he’s definitely going to bring in money from 90% of the other teams in the world.
“Will he leave? I don’t think he’s leaving any time soon.”
As the report by The Athletic highlights, Wijnaldum is something of an outlier among Liverpool’s ‘important’ squad members in not being tied down to a long contract.
That may have something to do with his age, with Jordan Henderson, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and James Milner the only outfield players older than him within the first team.
Nicol quite rightly notes how crucial a role Wijnaldum has played for Liverpool – not least in scoring twice in their fabled 4-0 triumph over Barcelona last May.
To sell him now may therefore seem a strange move with Liverpool performing so well, though perhaps a 30-year-old Wijnaldum will not have the same role come the end of next season, which could explain the Reds’ apparent calmness over what his long-term future holds.
Liverpool fans, should the club consider selling Wijnaldum? Let us know what you think below!
