Sources: Wijnaldum transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona could collapse amid big development

Sources: Wijnaldum transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona could collapse amid big development

Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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Georginio Wijnaldum's dream transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona faces collapse if Ronald Koeman is sacked, Football Insider has been told.

But the Holland international's move will hit the skids if Koeman is dismissed by the Spanish giants at the end of the season.

A recruitment source has told Football Insider that the transfer is dependent upon Wijnaldum's countryman and former national team manager staying on for a second campaign.

Barcelona have approached club legend Xavi about taking over even though he signed a two-year contract extension with Qatari club Al Sadd last week.

The former midfielder is said by sources to want a contract worth £6.9million-a-year after tax to take over the club where he is adored as an all-time great.

Barcelona will go down a different route in terms of overhauling their squad if Xavi were to take over from Koeman.

That would mean the end of Wijnaldum completing what has been "his dream transfer" since boyhood.

Key to the deal has always been Koeman and the possibility of him being axed has significantly increased after Barca failed to win the La Liga title following last weekend's defeat.

Football Insider revealed last November that Liverpool were to try again in the new year to revive discussions with Wijnaldum and his agent Humphrey Nijman.

But negotiations are still at a stalemate and the Merseysiders have almost given up any hope of keeping him.

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