Newcastle’s Georginio Wijnaldum is expected to have a medical at Liverpool on Friday after the two clubs agreed a fee for the midfielder.
Advertisement
Talks are ongoing over the structure of payment which could yet see a player go on loan to Newcastle as part of the arrangement.
However, he wasn’t able to prevent the Magpies from relegation to the Championship and Liverpool have beaten off stiff competition to sign the Dutch global with Wijnaldum set to wear the No.5 shirt at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp said: “I know it’s hard for our supporters in this moment, because it sounds like other players really want to come us as they don’t have any other offers”, he said.
Klopp said a conversation with the 25-year-old was enough to realise he would be a ideal fit at Anfield.
But Benitez admitted that retaining “focused” players is his priority this summer and does not want any player thinking of personal glory ahead of promotion to the Premier League. “This is the home of football”.
“[He seems] a great man – from the outside – because I don’t know how he works yet and I have to work with him”.
Wijnaldum can play in an attacking role – as he showed to a large degree at Newcastle past year – or he can play in the more withdrawn role he has operated in for the Netherlands national side.
Jurgen Klopp is looking forward to working with new signing Georginio Wijnaldum – and helping the Dutchman reach another level at Anfield.
The midfielder joined Newcastle in a £14.5m switch from PSV Eindhoven last summer but was unable to prevent their relegation from the Premier League.
Although the club still has other holes that need to be filled, adding Wijnaldum puts the club one step closer to a top four finish. Everyone is very happy with him – he is a nice guy and very good player.
Advertisement
When I played for Liverpool, I heard them frequently say that he would be a wonderful asset one day.
