Liverpool may have finally replaced Wijnaldum with Gakpo transfer

Aston Villa V Liverpool in pictures

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Liverpool fans have long been asking for their club to replace Georginio Wijnaldum after the Netherlands star left Anfield on a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. The Dutchman was a key cog in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield for several successful seasons, but they could not agree on a new contract and let him go, without signing anyone in his place according to many fans.

Wijnaldum left and only Ibrahima Konate was signed in the same summer, as Luis Diaz joined later in January and the only midfield options that the Reds have recruited since then have been youngster Fabio Carvalho and Arthur Melo on a season-long loan. Neither are suited to the more industrial style of play that Wijnaldum was known for among the Anfield faithful, who was more than capable of popping up with crucial goals.

However former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol believes that after the Reds agreed a deal to sign Cody Gakpo from PSV for a fee that could reach £50million, they have a player that can finally replace Wijnaldum.

“The more I think about it, could he be a Wijnaldum except maybe give you more goals? Because I don’t see him as [part of] a front three,” Nicol told ESPN. “So maybe he is the one in the middle three that gives you goals as well as the hard work.”

Gakpo has predominantly operated from the left at the Dutch side, where he has 12 goals and 14 assists in the Eredivisie and Europa League this campaign, but showed his ability to operate centrally under Louis van Gaal at the World Cup. He scored in each of Holland’s group stage games in Qatar, and often played behind the front two in Van Gaal’s system and at times excelled in midfield areas.

Manchester United were thought to be the favourite to sign Gakpo, who had been earmarked to replace Cristiano Ronaldo and play as a centre-forward under Erik ten Hag as the Portuguese striker’s contract was terminated by the club.

However on Boxing Day Liverpool gazumped their rivals for the second time in a few months after beating them to the signing of Darwin Nunez, by agreeing a deal for Gakpo.

The 23-year-old is set to arrive on Merseyside to complete a medical ahead of a move that will bolster Klopp’s forward options, and he could play on the left wing while Diaz and Diogo Jota remained sidelined.

The duo are not expected to return to Premier League action before February, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain lined up on that flank for the Reds’ 3-1 win away to Aston Villa on Monday as goals came from Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Bajcetic.

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