Liverpool legend set for surprise move

Stuart Telford

• 10 Jun 2023 11:07 BST
• 5 min read

Former Liverpool man Georginio Wijnaldum, now of PSG, looks set to join Atalanta after Roma decided not to make his loan deal from the French side permanent.

Wijnaldum has returned to Paris after Jose Mourinho opted against making his stay in the Italian capital permanent.

The Dutchman, who previously won the Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool, had two goals and an assist in 23 games in all competitions for the Giallorossi this season.

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As reported by Milan Keskin on FootballTransfers' Dutch service, Wijnaldum still has another year to run on his contract at the Parc des Princes, but Paris Saint-Germain have no intention of keeping him and will look to offload him this summer.

No way back at PSG

Sky Italia previously reported that Roma would not activate the clause to make his stay at the Stadio Olimpico permanent, not least because of the Dutch international's salary demands - Wijnaldum earns €6.4m a year before tax at PSG.

With Marco Verratti, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Carlos Soler and Renato Sanches in his way at the Parc des Princes, there is no clear path to first-team minutes for Wijnaldum back at his parent club.

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Since PSG acquired the 88-time Netherlands international on a free from Liverpool, there is less pressure to turn a profit on the player, who is now 32, and it is understood they could allow him to leave for a nominal fee, if any at all.

Atalanta have been credited with an interest in Wijnaldum, and according to FootballTransfers' official partner SciSports, the Serie A side would have a "club fit" score of 84 for the midfielder, owing to his and their styles of play.

Wijnaldum wouldn't be short for company at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, either, with compatriots Marten de Roon, Teun Koopmeiners and Hans Hateboer already there.