Jurgen Klopp’s attempts at changing the Liverpool squad into something he really can call his own is beginning to take shape with the news that Georginio Wijnaldum is set to move from Championship side Newcastle for a fee of £25m
Considering the 25 year old Dutch international was only signed for £14.5m from PSV and Newcastle were relegated last season that is quite the healthy bit of business by Rafa Benitez as he looks to prepare for life in England’s second tier.
It would be quite apparent that once Newcastle were relegated that it was always going to be near impossible to keep players of Wijnaldum’s calibre at the club and he was believed to be attracting the interest of a number of Premier League clubs.
But it’s Liverpool who have won the race to capture his signature and he will now be the sixth new face to join what is beginning to shape up quite the Anfield revolution under Klopp. With Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure already departed and with a whole raft of players still set for the exit door it seems as if Klopp is getting close to his ideal squad and getting rid of the deadwood that he had inherited from Brendan Rodgers.
Wijnaldum was one of the bright lights in a miserable season for Newcastle last season and you may wonder how he has gone for a fee of £25m but this Summer we are seeing transfer fees once again take another step change so if Sadio Mane was purchased for £34m then by that scale you would say it’s a pretty decent price.
Klopp’s side have now European football this season but that could very well be one less thing to worry about, with that in mind they can have a proper assault at trying to get a Top 4 place this time around. Klopp’s first season would have bought him some grace but with all this expenditure brings added pressure so he will have to make sure they are nearer 4th than 8th this time around.
In fairness to Wijnaldum it’s not quite the marquee signing that Liverpool fans were hoping for but perhaps the philosophy will be about the collective rather than superstar, if that brings success then they will soon become stars on Merseyside. An all important season for Liverpool and Klopp awaits.