Liverpool in talks to sign the next Georginio Wijnaldum

Liverpool are in talks with the next Georginio Wijnaldum.

When Liverpool signed the Dutchman from Newcastle United in the summer of 2016, there was a fair amount of scepticism.

After all, he had just been relegated from the Premier League, and many supporters questioned whether he was really the calibre of player needed to take Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool to the next level.

It didn't take long for Wijnaldum to answer those doubts.

While he wasn't the flashiest player in Liverpool's squad, he quickly became one of the most important.

Klopp trusted him implicitly because he could do just about everything. He was technically excellent, incredibly intelligent and possessed the kind of stamina that allowed him to cover every blade of grass.

Whether Liverpool needed control in midfield, extra energy in the press or someone capable of protecting the defence, Wijnaldum was usually the answer.

His versatility was one of his greatest strengths. He could play as a holding midfielder, a box-to-box player or in a more advanced role without the team's balance ever suffering. More often than not, he sacrificed his own attacking numbers for the benefit of the system, doing the hard work that allowed others to shine.

Of course, there were still moments when he stepped into the spotlight himself.

Nothing will ever top his unforgettable performance against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final. Introduced at half-time with Liverpool needing something special, Wijnaldum scored twice in the space of just two minutes to level the tie and set the stage for one of the greatest comebacks in football history. Those goals have become part of Anfield folklore and perfectly captured his knack for delivering when it mattered most.

But defining Wijnaldum solely by those two goals would do him a disservice. His true value came from his consistency. Week after week, he produced dependable performances without demanding attention. He rarely had a bad game, almost never let Klopp down and became one of the key cogs in the midfield that helped Liverpool win the Champions League, the Premier League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

He may not have always grabbed the headlines, but Wijnaldum was exactly the kind of player every great team needs. Reliable, selfless and endlessly effective, he was one of the unsung heroes of Klopp's greatest Liverpool side.

Liverpool could do with a player of Wijnaldum's ilk now, and they could very well be signing their next version of the Dutch international this summer.

According to Brazilian outlet Globo, Liverpool have made contact to sign Joao Gomes, who is also on Manchester United's radar.

Gomes could very much be the club's next Wijnaldum. There are a lot of similarities. He would be coming from a relegated side for a decent fee, and he is very much someone who could become a key cog in Andoni Iraola's team.

Only Anderson (231) won more ground duels than the Wolves midfielder (199) in the Premier League last season. He's a press resistant midfielder who covers a lot of distances, works tirelessly and is a good ball carrier as well.

Gomes would bring that intensity Iraola needs but he'd also bring versatility. He can play as a no.6 and he can be used in the no.8 position as well.

In many ways, he embodies the best of Wijnaldum and considering Liverpool never really replaced the Dutchman, Gomes would be a fantastic heir to his throne.

As Liverpool enter talks with Gomes, this is one to keep a close eye on.