Wijnaldum comments on "tough" Klopp shed light on Barcelona transfer decision

Georginio Wijnaldum has reportedly 'agreed terms' to leave Liverpool and head to Barcelona.

Reports in Spain suggest the Dutchman is ready to link up with Ronald Koeman at the Nou Camp and leave behind Jurgen Klopp.

Wijnaldum has yet to commit his long-term future to Liverpool and is out of contract at the end of the season.

And whilst he has had a great deal of success at Anfield, his recent comments suggest why he might be searching for a new challenge.

In July, Wijnaldum underlined just how tough life has been under the German in their quest for dominance.

On the pitch, their work has paid off with Premier League and Champions League glory.

But it is clear Wijnaldum has put everything into life at Liverpool and might now decide he needs a fresh start and a break from Klopp's intense methods after winning every possible major honour at Anfield.

“In my career I have never had to train as hard as under Klopp," Wijnaldum said.

“Long hours of training, training really hard. I hate pre-season anyway, it is just running, running and running. Boring. I am not ashamed to moan about it. It really is tough under Klopp.

“But once you have done it all you enter, what I call the happy stage.

“When you are winning 4-1 away at Arsenal and you don’t feel a bit of tiredness! That gives us an incredible feeling of power.”

Whilst Liverpool have been through Wijnaldum's "happy stage" and had the "feeling of power", they have got their reward in terms of Champions League and Premier League winners' medals.

It might now be time for a new challenge, although just last week Klopp stated he was "relaxed" about his future.

Wijnaldum has previously praised the role Klopp has played in his personal success at Anfield, whilst the German has labelled him a "perfect midfielder" in the past.

"Gini speaks on the pitch for the way he plays. It’s just so obvious his importance,” Klopp said last October.

“And it is in both directions – in attack and defence, small spaces, big spaces, it is hard challenges, fine football, pretty much all of that.

“Is he the perfect midfielder? Yes, from the skill-set, 100 per cent. He has all that you need.

“There was his header against Barcelona too. He is not the ­tallest, but he is good in the air.

“He is a good jumper with good timing, all that stuff. It all makes him a pretty good footballer.

“That is how it should be. It is not my fault if he goes under the radar. You cannot ask me why he goes under the radar. I don’t set the radar!"