Roma are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain outcast Georginio Wijnaldum - with reports suggesting the Dutchman is prioritising working with Jose Mourinho.
Wijnaldum’s career has dramatically stalled since he decided to leave Liverpool at the end of his contract 12 months ago. The midfielder joined the French giants with the expectation he would become a regular under Mauricio Pochettino.
However, after struggling to find his form in the early months of the campaign, he quickly became a fringe player in the French capital. Pochettino has now been axed, but his fortunes at the Parc des Princes remain bleak, with suggestions he is one of a horde of players who is free to leave this summer.
Transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio claims that the Giallorossi are interested in signing Wijnaldum, although they are looking to seal a move for a defender first. Bragantino centre-back Natan is expected to arrive at the Stadio Olimpico, which would then give the green light to push forward for the 31-year-old.
Wijnaldum is likely to push for an exit this summer, having dropped out of Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands squad, just months away from this winter’s World Cup. And his national team manager has warned that unless something changes at club level, he will remain on the outside looking in.
"Unfortunately, little has changed in Gini's situation at his club since our last two international matches in March,” Van Gaal explained in May. “As a result, I am forced to make other choices, no matter how difficult and regrettable I personally find it.”
Such was the scale of his disastrous first season in Ligue 1, he was recognised as the league’s ‘flop of the season’, with more than 100,000 votes making up the decision.
But Mourinho should have few concerns about potentially linking up with the dynamic former Reds midfielder after Jurgen Klopp described him as a “manager’s dream” just a year ago.
"I will miss the player he is like crazy, highest-quality ability, one of the smartest players I have ever had the privilege to coach. His contribution was off the scale, a manager’s dream,” Klopp said after his final appearance for the club.
Mirror Football columnist Stan Collymore has recently urged his former club to bring Wijnaldum back to Merseyside with Liverpool arguably short of one body in the middle of the park.
“Wijnaldum is having a proper wobbler at Paris Saint-Germain and, despite the fact he’s earning a king’s ransom, if I were Jurgen Klopp I’d chance my arm with a cheeky low-ball offer to try to get him back to Liverpool,” he said.
“He’s 32 in November, the same age as Jordan Henderson and four years younger than James Milner, and he’d be a great player for the youngsters at Anfield such as Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones to learn from, too.
“I’m not usually a fan of going back but if there’s a cheap deal to be done, my old club could still be getting a proper, top-level performer.”
