Running down a contract for a player around the age of 30 is an attractive option, because it boosts the chances of one last big pay day, with a potential new club happy to offer a huge sign-on fee and large wages instead of the transfer fee they would have had to pay in a usual deal…
That was the case until COVID-19, anyway.
Football finances have taken a whack and according to the Telegraph, this has affected Gini Wijnaldum’s chances of a lucrative Bosman deal – with nothing yet signed or sealed.
Journalist Mike McGrath says that there is now still a chance Wijnaldum will renew with Liverpool – although we reckon it’s still an outside bet.
He clearly wants a new adventure – and we’re not even sure his reasoning for an exit is entirely financial.
Gini could play for Barcelona, in sunny Spain, for a few years – in a more attacking position than the one he’s had to under Jurgen Klopp.
We’d hold no grudges if Wijnaldum made this decision – and simply be grateful for his service over the years.
Let’s see what happens.