Former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is close to joining Paris Saint-Germain after they gazumped Barcelona's contract offer. The Holland international left Liverpool as a free agent this month and was expected to join the Spanish giants once Ronald Koeman's future as coach was assured. Wijnaldum is therefore set to sign for Pochettino's Ligue 1 outfit rather than move to the Nou Camp, with terms on a sizeable deal until 2024 provisionally agreed. Barcelona had also hoped the prospect of linking up with Wijnaldum's former manager at the Netherlands Ronald Koeman - now confirmed to be staying at the club another season - would help persuade him to join, but it evidently did not. The 74-cap international is expected to play a heavy part in Frank de Boer's side at the upcoming Euros, and will captain the team in the injury-enforced absence of the usual skipper Virgil van Dijk.

Source: Daily Mail June 06, 2021 08:37 UTC