Barcelona ‘plot swoop for Liverpool’s Gini Wijnaldum and Manchester City’s Eric Garcia in January’ as Ronald Koeman chases Premier League pair available on the cheap with their contracts due to expire next summer
- Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijamdum is out of contract at Anfield next summer
- Manchester City defender Eric Garcia can also speak to other teams in January
- Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman admits that there is interest there for Wijnaldum
- Lyon winger Memphis Depay is another player Barca could pick up on the cheap
Barcelona are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum and Manchester City defender Eric Garcia in January, according to reports.
The Premier League pair are out of contract next summer and Ronald Koeman is keen to pursue deals for both players in the upcoming transfer window, despite transfers not materialising in the summer.
Koeman worked with Wijnaldum whilst manager of the Dutch national team, whilst Garcia was formerly at Barca, and Barcelona who made a £88m loss this year are keen to pursue deals for the pair on the cheap, according to the Mirror.
Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum is still attracting interest from LaLiga club Barcelona
The Catalans are also keeping an eye on Eric Garcia’s contract situation at Manchester City
In fact, Ronald Koeman confirmed the interest this weekend, saying: ‘Our interest for Wijnaldum is strong.
‘I wanted to bring him here in the summer because he has the ability to make fantastic runs from midfield and turn up in the box at the right moments.
‘I am convinced he can really add something to the team. But the financial situation of Barcelona was known at his club.
‘There is a chance for sure that we are going to have another go for Garcia. ‘But right now I cannot know how the finances of the club are in January, so I have to wait and see.’
The LaLiga club were also interested in Lyon’s Memphis Depay in the summer – and Koeman admitted a deal for the former Manchester United man was close.
Lyon’s Memphis Depay was close to joining Barca in the summer but a deal fell through
All three players are out of contract next summer and Barcelona could capitalise on their contracts situation by signing them up on the cheap.
‘Everything was ready, but because of the La Liga rules we knew we had to sell first before we could sign our targets,’ Koeman added about Depay.
‘In the end it was not possible. It was disappointing, but Memphis knew how the situation was at Barca.’
