Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has endorsed Georginio Wijnaldum‘s move to Merseyside, praising his compatriot’s attacking quality.
The Reds have agreed a £25 million deal with Newcastle United to take Wijnaldum to Anfield, with the midfielder set for a medical on Friday.
Wijnaldum will then complete his move by joining up with Jurgen Klopp‘s squad for their pre-season tour of the US.
Speaking to Dutch publication De Telegraaf, Kuyt revealed that this would see Liverpool secure a long-term target, with the club scouting Wijnaldum during his time on the books.
“[It is] a wonderful transfer for Gini,” Kuyt said.
“The best compliment for him is that, in my time at Liverpool, his name buzzed around the club.
“He was [acknowledged] by the scouts already in his youth at Feyenoord as a very great talent.
“When I played for Liverpool, I frequently heard them say that he would be a wonderful asset one day.”
Wijnaldum spent seven years with Feyenoord before joining PSV Eindhoven in 2011, and after scoring 56 goals in 154 games for the Eredivisie club, moved to Newcastle in 2015.
The Magpies paid £14.5 million for his services, and following his 11-goal Premier League haul in 2015/16, have seen his value almost double.
Kuyt believes this will prove great value for a resurgent Reds, with Klopp acquiring “a player with the lungs of a horse.”
“He is now at a top club in England and he belongs at home,” he continued.
“Klopp wants to take Liverpool all the way up again.
“I myself was at [Liverpool’s] semi-final [against Villarreal] in the Europa League and then I noticed that something is growing. That Klopp sees a place for Gini is nice for the player.
“I know him well, he did fine [at the World Cup] in Brazil, [where I] also played with him.
“He is not only a good player, but also a player with the lungs of a horse.”
Kuyt enjoys an affinity with the club following his six years at Anfield, having joined from Feyenoord in 2006, and is well aware of the calibre of player required to secure success.
Praise for his former international colleague should come as a boost to Klopp, who will count Wijnaldum among his number for 2016/17 and beyond.
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