Liverpool have reportedly set a £15 million asking price for Barcelona target Georginio Wijnaldum.
The midfielder has become an integral part of Liverpool’s industrious midfield following his move from relegated Newcastle in 2016, helping the Merseyside club win the Champions League and Premier League over the last two seasons.
The Dutchman only has one year remaining on his contract at Anfield, and the recent appointment of Ronald Koeman at Barcelona has seen Wijnaldum emerge as a target for the Catalan club, the 29-year-old having worked with the new Barca boss at international level.
Despite his importance in Jurgen Klopp’s engine room, the Mirror are reporting that Liverpool have ‘lost the battle’ to keep him at the club, and have now set the Nou Camp club an asking price of £15 million, with the Merseyside outfit ‘not willing to contemplate’ losing him for free next summer.
A sale would likely see Liverpool shore up their interest in Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago, with the Reds having so far been unwilling to meet the newly crowned European Champions’ €30m valuation.
Reports in Germany have claimed that the Spain international midfielder has already said his goodbyes to his club teammates, something he denied while on international duty this weekend.
“I have not said at any time that I am leaving. Every year you put me in a different team,” Thiago told the press.
“I am on the sidelines, my future is tomorrow’s game right now. I neither care nor am I interested in what I know I talked.”
Champions Liverpool kick off their season next weekend with a home fixture against Marcelo Bielsa’s newly-promoted Leeds United, though the transfer window remains open until October 5th.
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