Gary Neville believes it will be very difficult to replace Georginio Wijnaldum and has warned Liverpool his presence will be sorely missed next season.
The Netherlands international left Anfield at the end of his contract, following five seasons as a key cog in Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Wijnaldum was announced as a Paris Saint-Germain player earlier this week after agreeing to a bumper three-year contract with the Ligue 1 giants.
Klopp is likely to be in the market for a new central midfielder in as the transfer window opens, but Neville has predicted it could prove very difficult to find a player of the same quality.
“Unsung hero. People talk about all the great players Liverpool have and he very rarely gets a mention,” the Manchester United legend told ITV Sport.
“I think he’ll be badly missed next season, very difficult to replace him at Liverpool.
“He’s one of those players that keeps things ticking. You don’t look at him and think he’s doing anything outstandingly well, but I would imagine his teammates respect him enormously because he covers a lot of areas on the pitch.
“He does things simply for his teammates, he’s an unselfish player and he’s an important player for this Dutch team.”
Wijnaldum got his Euro 2020 campaign off to the perfect start as he scored the opener in Netherlands’ win over Ukraine in Amsterdam.
Klopp issued an emotional open letter to the former Newcastle midfielder after his departure confirmed, labelling him a “manager’s dream” and a “Liverpool legend”.
“As a team we said our goodbyes to Gini at Anfield after the final game of the season,” Klopp’s statement read.
“There was the public farewell on the pitch with the guard of honour. But then a more private occasion also.
“It was difficult for all of us because of how much this astonishing person means to the group.
"He’s been a big part of our lives for so long. There is nothing I won’t miss about him.
“I will miss the player he is like crazy – highest-quality ability, one of the smartest players I have ever had the privilege to coach. His contribution was off the scale, a manager’s dream.
“His smile lit up our workplace. He was a huge part of our beating heart.
He continued: “Of course, he is now someone else’s and on behalf of the team we wish him great success in France with PSG. It is no surprise he’s joined such an amazing club.
"Knowing his personality, he will fall in love with the city and the team – and they with him.
“Farewell, Gini: you came, you saw, you won the lot. You’re a Liverpool legend now and forever.”
