Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes Jurgen Klopp would be right to let Goergino Wijnaldum leave this summer.
The future of Wijnaldum at Liverpool has been up in the air for the past couple of weeks.
The 31-year-old is out of contract at the club this summer and there is no indication yet as to whether he would be offered a contract renewal.
Wijnaldum came close to joining Barcelona last summer, having worked with manager Ronald Koeman on the international scene with the Netherlands. Ahead of another transfer window, some reports have once again claimed the Dutch international will join the Catalan giants.
However, the midfielder himself recently dismissed those claims. He said as per Dutch outlet NOS: “They will always talk about these things but as I’ve said on other occasions, I have no news still.
“They say this in the media but I have no news. When there is I will talk about it, but there isn’t.”
Wijnaldum is no doubt a key player for Jurgen Klopp but Jamie Redknapp sees no reason why the Reds shouldn’t move on from the Dutchman.
“They do run the club in a stats-based way and you have to trust what they are doing here” he told the PA news agency.
“I understand what they are trying to do, they are not just going to throw money away and give players long contracts.”
“That is their model and it has worked so well for them so you have to believe in what they are trying to do. You also can’t be held to ransom by players.”
“Wijnaldum has been a brilliant signing for Liverpool: his energy levels are fantastic but they have a feeling that, long-term, giving a player that much money until he is 33 or 34… they don’t want to do it.”
“I am sure Jurgen Klopp won’t want to lose him as you can’t deny he is a fantastic player but he is not irreplaceable, you can find players like him, and Liverpool will be in the market trying to find the next Wijnaldum.”
“Time will tell whether it is the right decision but I do understand what Liverpool are trying to do.”
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