Barcelona's interest in Liverpool lynchpin confirmed by Koeman

One of the players in Barcelona’s wishlist in the summer transfer window was Georginio Wijnaldum, confirms Ronald Koeman.

A number of Dutch players started getting linked with a move to FC Barcelona shortly after the appointment of Ronald Koeman, who took charge of the club after resigning as the Holland head coach.

Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum was one such player. Plenty of rumors talked about a possible switch for him from Anfield to Camp Nou, claiming that the midfielder’s addition was viewed as a major part of a squad overhaul in Catalonia by Koeman.

The Barca boss was recently asked to validate the rumors, to which he admitted that his compatriot was indeed a target for his side.

“He was on my list,” Koeman confessed, speaking to NOS.

Olympique Lyon’s Memphis Depay was another Dutchman who was heavily linked with a move to Catalonia in the previous transfer window. It is expected that Barca will reignite their pursuit of the forward in January, having suffered a summer deadline-day failure in bringing him in.

Ronald Koeman to NOS: “We want Memphis Depay at Barcelona and he wants to join Barça too”. Démbélé deal with Manchester United is key to complete the agreement. Barça-OL deal [€25m + add ons] for Depay is almost ready to be signed if #FCB will sell more players. 🔴 #DeadlineDay https://t.co/bPDRWTpbfd
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 5, 2020

Quizzed on the possibility of signing Depay, Koeman replied: “We hope to have a second Dutchman in the squad.”

Depay will be a free agent by July 2021 if he decides against renewing his contract with Lyon. The former Manchester United man has also previously spoken about the possibility of a move away from the Groupama Stadium.