Jurgen Klopp refuses to confirm what the future holds for Wijnaldum
There isn't a chance he'll stay... is there?
Why any journalist would hope to squeeze an answer out of Jurgen Klopp with regard to the future of a Liverpool player, especially one deemed as integral as Gini Wijnaldum, is baffling.
Though considerably less so than the second reporter who soldiered on with a similar line of questioning.
In fairness, the German was more willing to expand on his answer the second time around - so perhaps persistence is the key!
Of course, the response was no more revealing in terms of the club’s stance on negotiations with the reportedly wantaway star.
As far as speculation is concerned, however, our No.5’s future will lie outside of Merseyside the moment the transfer window is ushered in ahead of a summer of international football.
Barring a dramatic U-turn from Wijnaldum, the player will be bidding the fanbase farewell with his Sunday swansong at Anfield, with the Reds gearing up to host Crystal Palace for what will also be Roy Hodgson’s final game in charge of the London outfit.
Considering Gini is set to turn 31 in November, the potential loss of the midfielder is not as disastrous as it could have been.
That being said, his departure does arguably herald Klopp’s first major operation to his trophy-winning squad.
It’s not quite the gargantuan task that hangs ominously in the distance concerning the future requirement to replace the likes of Virgil van Dijk (though it may perhaps be one the German avoids beyond his current contract), though no doubt entails some serious thinking.
There is technically an option available in Curtis Jones, though a new face seems somewhat inevitable, let alone necessary, considering the number of aging midfielders we have in the squad.
Take away Jordan Henderson (30), James Milner (35), and Thiago Alcantara (30), and we’re left severely injury-prone players in Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remaining beyond the likes of Jones and Fabinho.
Come to think of it, the recruitment team could very well have their hands full solving the dilemma of our midfield department alone!