da heads bet： Georginio Wijnaldum’s future at Liverpool is up in the air.
da dobrowin： Since signing from Newcastle in 2016 for £25m, the Netherlands international has been an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team as they have climbed to the pinnacle of European football. He has made 174 appearances for the Reds so far, scoring 17 goals and providing 16 assists.
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However, he has just 18 months left on his contract, and as it stands, there is no new deal ready to be signed. The former PSV man has failed to assure fans that he will be staying at Liverpool, and it has been rumoured that his employers would be willing to let him go in the summer for the right price. Whilst he may have been an important player during his time on Merseyside, his spell in the North West could be moving towards its conclusion.
That would leave a spot open in Klopp’s midfield, and Marcelo Brozovic could be the man to come in. The Premier League leaders are said to have scouted the Croatia international, per FC Inter News, and the player has a release clause of €60m (£52m) for non-Italian clubs.
He is currently enjoying an impressive season under Antonio Conte. In Serie A so far, he has three goals and five assists as Internazionale sit six points off Juventus in first place with a game in hand.
Wijnaldum, meanwhile has just three goals to his name in the Premier League, and has failed to contribute a single assist. It is not just there where Brozovic is in the ascendancy either.
Going forward, the former Dinamo Zagreb ace has proven himself to be an important member of Conte’s revolution at the San Siro. He has averaged 1.5 key passes per match, as well as one successful dribble – in that department, he has a success rate of 79%.
Wijnaldum, on the other hand has managed a paltry 0.3 of, and although he has completed 1.3 successful dribbles per game, that is still a ratio of 55% – someway off the Inter man.
Defensively, as well, it is Brozovic who comes out on top. He has made 1.3 interceptions and 2.5 tackles per match compared to 0.6 and one respectively. He also has a slight advantage in terms of duels won, prevailing in 53% compared to 48%.
Wijnaldum does have a higher pass accuracy – 91% to 89% – and has given away less fouls – 0.4 per game compared to 1.3 – but that can be put down to Brozovic bringing more adventure in attack, and therefore more often in a position to give away free-kicks.
It can be argued that he plays in an inferior league, and that Liverpool’s system requires the Reds’ number five to play more of a reserved role, but there is no getting around the fact Brozovic’s output is vastly superior.
This is not necessarily a one-off, either – the Croatian has started a World Cup final as the Balkan state succumbed to France in Russia in 2018.
Wijnaldum has been more than useful for Klopp but, should he leave the club, Brozovic can be the man to take over the mantle in the middle of the park.