Arsenal, Liverpool or Newcastle? The clubs that can rescue Wijnaldum from PSG hell

Stefan Bienkowski

• Updated: 8 Jan 2022 12:08 CST
• 4 min read

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has urged his club to make a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s underused midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum in the January transfer window.

After swapping Liverpool for the Ligue 1 giants, the Netherland’s international has somewhat predictably found himself struggling for game time and influence in a team crammed full of star players.

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Indeed, in PSG’s first 19 league games of the season, Wijnaldum has started just nine. And in the Champions League the midfielder has started just three of the club’s six games.

As such, rumours have begun to circulate over the player’s future in Ligue 1, with a number of clubs being linked with Wijnaldum - including Arsenal.

"I saw Wijnaldum’s name [linked with Arsenal]. That would be amazing. A loan signing from PSG," the former striker affirmed on the Kelly and Wrighty Show.

"Someone like that in the midfield. Of that experience. He is a Premier League winner. Just to help with the youngsters and a Sambi Lokonga just to keep it going.

"Then, they can add to the squad and, all of a sudden, Arsenal can start challenging and challenging seriously."

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side are certainly looking better than they did at the start of the season but they could definitely use another midfielder in January.

After selling Joe Willock and loaning out Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, the London club are a little light in the middle of the pitch - particularly when it comes to players with proven Premier League experience.

Should Arsenal be able to match Wijnaldum’s wage demands, Arteta’s side could offer the Netherland’s international regular game time in an exciting team. Which is perhaps all he was looking for when he left Liverpool.

Newcastle

Like just about every other player in Europe’s top leagues this month, Wijnaldum has inevitably had his name linked with a move to Newcastle. But in many ways, a move to St James’ Park would make sense for the midfielder.

Eddie Howe’s team are in desperate need of another central midfielder and in Wijnaldum they would be signing a player with immense experience as well as the talent to drag them back up the league table.

Naturally, Wijnaldum also has a strong link with Newcastle having previously played for the club, so the prospect of returning to the North East while doubling his wages may not be a bad idea at all for the midfielder.

Liverpool

Sometimes football works best when both parties put aside their pride and do what’s best. Which is exactly what Liverpool and Wijnaldum need to do in the coming weeks of this transfer window.

The Netherland’s international claims that he left because he didn’t feel wanted by Liverpool, but the past six months have proved that Jurgen Klopp’s side could certainly still use a player like Wijnaldum in the middle of the pitch.

With injuries and COVID infections mounting at Anfield, a return to the club for Wijnaldum would be an astute move from the club and an opportunity for the player to get his career back on track.