Is Liverpool’s potential Wijnaldum replacement worth €40 million?

Stefan Bienkowski

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Liverpool may have found a potential replacement to Gini Wijnaldum in the form of Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Florian Neuhaus. 

The Dutch international has forced the Anfield club to consider signing a replacement at the end of the season due to his current contract situation. 

Wijnaldum joined Liverpool in 2016 but has now entered the final six months of his contract with the English champions. 

That means the midfielder can now speak to other clubs, with Barcelona being heavily linked with offering the star a deal to move to Spain at the end of the season. 

As such, Liverpool have reportedly had to consider the possibility of a Wijnaldum-shaped hole in their midfield this season. 

According to Kicker, Jurgen Klopp and his backroom staff have identified Neuhaus as a potential replacement for Wijnadum. 

However, the 23-year-old talent won’t come cheap. Not only does Neuhaus have a contract with the Foals until 2024 but reportedly has a minimum fee release clause of €40 million. 

And it’s unlikely that Gladbach would let him leave for anything less than the proposed fee. 

But would the German midfielder be a direct replacement for Wijnaldum and would he be worth the reported fee to sign him this summer? 

Is Neuhaus an ideal replacement for Wijnaldum? 

As a player with obvious talents, Neuhaus has excelled as the real midfield engine in Marco Rose’s Gladbach side. 

The young player has played mostly as a deep-lying playmaker or even at times as a holding midfielder, however his ability to pick out passes and chip in with goals makes him something of an all-round midfield marvel. 

Indeed, Neuhaus’ six goals and six assists in 28 games suggest the 23-year-old is actually a little more attack-minded than Wijnaldum but could certainly play the box-to-box or holding role the Dutch international has done so well for Liverpool over the years. 

Equally, while €40 million may seem like a large fee within the context of Liverpool’s struggles during the January transfer window, it’s by no means beyond the going rate for a highly-rated midfielder in one of Europe’s top divisions. 

With the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund being linked with his talents, it’s clear that Neuhaus is one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting young talents this season and if Liverpool can convince him to move to Anfield then he’d surely prove to be a vital member of Klopp’s side.