Kuyt: Liverpool have wanted Wijnaldum for years

Matt Stead

Dirk Kuyt has revealed that Liverpool are long-term admirers of reported target Georginio Wijnaldum.

The Reds are expected to complete the signing of Wijnaldum within the week, having agreed a £25m fee with Newcastle for the player.

The Dutchman’s brother appeared to confirm that the move was imminent on Thursday, but cult hero Kuyt says that the club have been monitoring the midfielder for years.

“A wonderful transfer for Gini,” Kuyt told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. “The best compliment for him was that his name in my time at Liverpool buzzed inside the club,” added the 36-year-old, who spent six years at Anfield from 2006 to 2012.

“He was watched by the scouts already in his youth days at Feyenoord as a very great talent. When I played for Liverpool, I heard them frequently say that he would be a wonderful asset one day.

“He eventually ended up at PSV and Newcastle, before moving to Anfield. He is now at a top club in England and he’ll be at home.”

Kuyt, who is enjoying the later years of his career with boyhood club Feyenoord, says that Wijnaldum has proven his talent at the 2014 World Cup, and that Liverpool signing him indicates that the club are making positive moves.

“Led by Klopp, Liverpool want to go way up again,” he said. “I myself have been at the semi-finals in the Europa League and then I noticed that something is growing. Klopp sees Gini as a nice player. I know him well, he also did well in Brazil.”