TAKING THE HOT SEAT in recent days, Ronald Koeman has already employed an earnest recruitment strategy after he reportedly told his compatriot in the Liverpool ranks, Georginio Wijnaldum, not to sign a new Anfield contract.
Read: ‘Easier for Messi to PSG than Neymar back to Barça’
Koeman has been appointed Barcelona head coach on a two-year deal, replacing Quique Setien who was sacked following the club’s humiliating loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. He is said to be lining up a transfer for The Reds’ midfielder, who has less than a year remaining on his current deal.
Talks of an extension at The Reds for the midfielder have yet to begin with Koeman hoping to take advantage by swooping in for the 29-year-old. According to Dutch outlet AD, Koeman has told the midfielder not to sign a new contract at Anfield as he hopes to bring him to the Camp Nou this summer.
Koeman and Wijnaldum have worked closely together in the Netherlands national team set-up – Wijnaldum proving an ever-abiding presence within that set-up. But with only a year remaining on his current Liverpool deal, Barcelona might be hopeful of sealing Wijnaldum’s services on a cut-price deal.
However, if Barcelona fail to snap him up this summer, they could strike a pre-contract in January and sign him on a free transfer. Wijnaldum signed for Liverpool from Newcastle United in a transfer worth £25 million back in 2016 en route to winning the Champions League and Premier League in his Merseyside stay, thus far.