Liverpool could view Joe Willock as an ideal Gini Wijnaldum replacement
It has been two and a half years since Georginio Wijnaldum left Liverpool in search of a new challenge. With his Paris Saint-Germain career not really taking off, the player is currently on loan at AS Roma, where a long-term injury has kept him off the field since 22nd August.
However, speaking of his time at Liverpool, we only knew his value once he left the club. There was a lot of negativity in the air during the time he left and it felt like a bittersweet departure,. But hey, Gini will certainly go down as one of the most integral players at Liverpool in the Jurgen Klopp era. 237 appearances filled with 22 goals and 16 assists certainly attest to that claim.
Rarely injured, a guaranteed 7/10 performance, and unmatched work rate made him a key part of the Reds’ midfield engine. If we think about it, this is the kind of player Liverpool need at the club now. Andy Jones from The Athletic [subscription required] writes and mentions a Premier League player who could play a similar role to that of Gini at the Reds.
Is Willock the new Wijnaldum
Joe Willock of Newcastle United has similar attributes to that of Wijnaldum and could be a good fit for the Reds. The 23-year-old central midfielder has a long-term contract until the summer of 2027 [Transfermarkt] at the Magpies.
Willock has featured in all of Newcastle’s league games this season, and in 22 appearances across all competitions, has a couple of goals and as many assists. Even though Willock might not be defensively as secure as Wijnaldum, the attacking output sees much more of a difference as the England international tends to make runs more often than the Dutchman.
Moreover, with age, his defensive attributes could also improve, and hence, getting him on board doesn’t sound like a bad option at all. Possession stats for both players are pretty similar in the league, and Willock obviously, with age will improve beyond expectations.
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At only 23, Willock’s best years are certainly yet to come, and hopefully, he is among the midfielders the Reds would want to sign and do actually sign instead of just seeing themselves linked with a player.
