Liverpool Close to Signing Georginio Wijnaldum From Newcastle United

​​The Shields Gazette have reported that Newcastle United midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is close to a £25m move to Liverpool.

The 25-year-old will miss the Magpies' pre-season game against Doncaster on Wednesday night as the two clubs are in advanced talks.

A sticking point seems to be the payment of the transfer fee, with Newcastle wanting a larger part of the proposed fee to be up front but Liverpool wanting staggered payments.

However, this should not be a serious obstacle, with a deal expected to be reached soon and the Dutchman could even link up with Liverpool for their tour of the United States later this week.

Wijnaldum was signed from Dutch side PSV last summer for £14.5m and impressed in his first campaign - scoring 11 goals and playing in all 38 Premier League games - as a rare bright spark in a dismal campaign for the club that saw Steve McClaren sacked and the team relegated.

Rafa Benitez took over from McClaren, and despite improved performances it was too late to stop the club from spending next season in the Championship. After such an impressive individual season it was always going to be difficult to keep hold of the Holland international.

The Spanish manager has already allowed Papiss Cisse and Andros Townsend leave the club as he crafts a squad that will be capable of promotion at the first time of asking.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have also been busy in the transfer market and Wijnaldum would become their sixth summer signing after Ragnar Klavan, with the Estonian international close to a move from FC Augsburg.

Jurgen Klopp will be expected to push for the Champions League qualification places in the coming season after a full pre-season with his squad.