Loads of Liverpool fans have been reacting on social media to a claim Georginio Wijnaldum may have played his final game at Anfield as a Reds player.
According to The Athletic’s James Pearce, uncertainty remains over Wijnaldum’s future on Merseyside as the Dutch midfielder is still yet to put pen to paper on a contract extension having entered the final 12-months of his £75,000-per-week deal.
Wijnaldum penned his current terms upon the completion of his £25million move from Newcastle United in 2016 and has been a regular at Anfield over the following four seasons, making 186 appearances across all competitions including 37 of the Reds’ 38 Premier League fixtures this term.
Liverpool have tabled a new deal to the 29-year-old of at least three seasons, while the Anfield hierarchy were said to be hopeful of reaching an agreement last month following positive discussions that have yet to result in anything concrete.
If a resolution cannot be found promptly, Pearce expects the Liverpool board to decide swiftly over keeping Wijnaldum for the final year of his contract or look to part ways now that the summer transfer window has opened for business.
Lots of Liverpool supporters would be open to saying their goodbyes to Wijnaldum this summer if new terms cannot be reached, feeling that their side cannot continue allowing star players to leave on free transfers like Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne, Alberto Moreno, Daniel Sturridge, Emre Can and Mario Balotelli in recent years.
Wijnaldum would still warrant a sizable transfer fee if he were sold in the summer, with TransferMarkt touting a £36m valuation for the 62-cap Netherlands international following his six goals in 47 games across all competitions this term.
As much as I absolutely love Gini and want him to stay, it’s weird that it’s taking this long to make a contract decision. If he’s not 100% about being a Liverpool player just sell him imo, it’s been ongoing for so long I think if he wanted to stay he’d have signed it by now https://t.co/FYTGg5bSNX
— joe gomez (@klopponation) July 27, 2020
It should be a win win for both the sides, if he’s not willing to sign he should leave now, can’t afford to let him to go free, we can get a decent 20£m from selling him. That what he should also think about, he should earn the club some money through him
— Luke (@gerrardchennai) July 27, 2020
If he won’t sign then very sadly he will have to be sold so we have funds to spend where JK thinks necessary.
— DJG…LFC Champions of Everywhere (@DavidGoulbourn1) July 26, 2020
Sell him if he doesn’t want to sign a new contract. We can get decent money on him.
— Sam (@vvdszn) July 26, 2020
We can’t let him run down his contract and lose him for nothing — over the past few years we’ve already lost millions by doing that by letting Can, Moreno, Sturridge and Lallana leave at the end of contracts.
If he doesn’t want to extend, sell, and buy someone else. https://t.co/EW2qTmhRdu
— Laurie (@LFCLaurie) July 26, 2020
News of Wijnaldum’s Anfield future being uncertain has led some Liverpool fans to suggest it is now time to sell the central midfielder regardless of the talks over a new contract, with some of the belief Naby Keita is good enough to start or that the Dutchman holds the cards over a possible move for Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara.
Get rid https://t.co/pkQdEbJHEy
— LFCJ (@LFCJ__) July 27, 2020
Keita is more than good enough to start, We should sell him if he’s not signing a new contract
— Broken Nixon (@BrokenNixon) July 26, 2020
Sell him. Clearly not getting what he wants and won’t budge, so off he should go.
— Stewart Douglas Graeme Dickson (@ironfists125) July 26, 2020
I’m beginning to feel interest in Thiago rests solely on Gini’s future. I don’t think a move for him makes sense otherwise.
— Alex Aris (@AlexAri62735186) July 26, 2020
Love gini but get thiago happy days wont be that much difference money wise either
— Paul Andrew Hart (@hart1_ph) July 26, 2020
Not all Liverpool fans want to say goodbye to Wijnaldum just yet, though, and are certainly hoping to see the 29-year-old pen new terms that will extend his time on Merseyside.
Wijnaldum has scored a few key goals over the years for the Reds that will ensure he is looked back fondly on in the future, especially his brace against FC Barcelona in the Champions League Semi-Finals that allowed Jurgen Klopp’s men to mount a dream comeback against the La Liga giants.
https://t.co/HyEtWYKaNK pic.twitter.com/kFVQQxM0GO
— Kriss (@KristoBexP1) July 26, 2020
Keep him.
— Sparrow II (@IsaacSparrowJr) July 26, 2020