Wijnaldum is a certainty Liverpool can’t lose with a whimper

Reports surrounding Georginio Wijnaldum’s contract talks and his prospective move to Barcelona suggest he is past the point of persuasion to remain at Liverpool. But while there is understandable short-term concern over centre-back cover, with Jurgen Klopp close to welcoming anyone with two legs and a pair of football boots, you’ve got to wonder what the effect of losing their most trusted midfielder will be, whether they’re doing everything in their power to keep him and if not, why not?

“He played always good, I cannot remember a lot of bad games to be honest,” Klopp said in November when asked about the latest on Wijnaldum’s future at Anfield. “He played for us in plenty of different positions and he is in a good moment thank God. Long may it continue. I don’t know how many games he’s played since I’ve been here, it’s good and there’s nothing else to say about it.”

He’s featured in 215 games since he joined, has played the most minutes other than Roberto Firmino in that time and has been the most used midfielder in all five seasons. He’s absurdly consistent and crucially – particularly for Liverpool right now – never injured.

Now into the last six months of his contract, he’s free to negotiate deals with foreign clubs. He’s made no secret of his desire to play for Barcelona should he leave Liverpool, with former national boss Ronald Koeman very keen for them to reunite in La Liga.

But after “500 talks” and various sit-downs with Klopp, Wijnaldum’s claims that the ball is in Liverpool’s court and his insistence that “the club should” be giving updates on contract negotiations far from suggests that the Dutchman is pushing for an Anfield exit and is instead leaving his decision as late as possible in the hope that he’s offered what he wants.

We’ve seen the effect on players when they have their heart set on a move elsewhere – notably Christian Eriksen in recent times – in terms of downing tools and sulking. And while Wijnaldum probably just isn’t that sort of player, his performances and off-field comments aren’t those of someone gunning for a move, more one who’s constantly battling to prove his worth. Not to his manager, whose admiration is clear, but to the club who seem bizarrely unwilling to bend to what are probably very reasonable terms.

The latest contract offer was reportedly made in December, with Wijnaldum thought to have rejected the deal for financial reasons but also due to a lack of clarity as to ‘what the project is going to be in the future’.

The latter point presumably refers to whether investment is going to be made in the team and if so, where? But that will likely rest on Wijnaldum’s decision. If he is to leave, Liverpool will need to sign a replacement, with Yves Bissouma and Renato Sanches said to be top targets. If he stays that need disappears and funds can be used to strengthen the squad elsewhere.

Of course we aren’t privy to the terms of these rejected contracts, but a significant increase on his current £75,000-per-week is both warranted and would end up saving Liverpool the transfer fee of a replacement, who would likely be asking for a similar wage anyway.

Bissouma at 24 and Sanches at 23 offer the prospect of longevity compared to 30-year-old Wijnaldum. But that’s all it is – a prospect – and also Wijnaldum is only 30, a proven winner and a ridiculously reliable midfielder in a squad of unreliable midfielders.

Thiago Alcantara has struggled in his first season and has a very different skill set to Wijnaldum anyway; Curtis Jones is brilliant but inexperienced; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s injuries mean he will forever be a bonus rather someone to count on; and the longer we stir the Naby Keita pot the more we suspect he will never truly boil.

Losing Wijnaldum just seems to be a risk Liverpool don’t need to take. The grass is sometimes greener but why go through the pain of sowing seeds or laying turf and leaving success at least partially up to chance when you’ve got a perfectly good lawn that just needs a bit of TLC?

In times of uncertainty – over injuries, the progress of the team and investment by the club – you would think Liverpool would be clinging to every possible dead cert. Wijnaldum is and always has been that; they will regret not doing everything in their power to keep him.

Will Ford is on Twitter