Ronald Koeman confirms interest in Liverpool star

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has acknowledged that Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum was regarded as a summer target.

Koeman took charge of the Blaugrana in August this year and it was thereafter claimed that he could make a serious attempt to sign Wijnaldum.

A deal never materialised before the international transfer deadline, but Koeman has been quite open in stating that the midfielder was a target.

Speaking to AD, Koeman accepted that Wijnaldum was being considered as an option and he would have brought something different to the team.

However, he added that the midfielder was not a priority with the club ultimately focusing on signing a right-back in the form of Sergino Dest from Ajax.

"Gini has great spatial awareness. He can get into the box fantastically well from the middle of the park. He really could've brought something to the team," He told.

"But the club knew the economic situation. [Wijnaldum]'s position was less of a priority in the end than, for example, a right-back or centre-forward."

Wijnaldum's current deal with the Reds expires at the end of the current season and so far, there has been no progress over a new contract.

He will be free to negotiate a pre-contract with an overseas club in January, but the Blaugrana could look to sign him during the winter transfer window itself.