Liverpool completed the signing of Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle United on Friday evening. The £25m fee may be steep, but it's a deal that makes sense for Jurgen Klopp, argues Nick Wright.

Rafael Benitez's opinion carries more weight than most on Merseyside, so Liverpool fans will be encouraged by his assessment of Georginio Wijnaldum last season. "He is so good, he can play everywhere and do well," the former Reds boss said in March. "He is one of the players that a manager enjoys to coach."

Unfortunately for Benitez, Wijnaldum was unable to prevent Newcastle's slide into the Championship in the months that followed, but the Netherlands international emerged from a difficult campaign with his reputation intact. Leicester's Riyad Mahrez was the only Premier League player to score more goals from midfield, and Liverpool weren't alone in the hunt for his signature this summer.

Top scoring midfielders - Premier League 2015/16 Player Team Goals Riyad Mahrez Leicester 17 Georginio Wijnaldum Newcastle 11 Gylfi Sigurdsson Swansea 11 Sadio Mane Southampton 11 Dele Alli Tottenham 10

His four-goal haul in a 6-2 thrashing of Norwich in October was a personal highlight, but perhaps his starring display in Newcastle's 2-0 win over Liverpool in December was more significant. Wijnaldum's diagonal shot bounced in off Martin Skrtel for the opener, and he added the second with a cool chip over Simon Mignolet after sprinting 60 yards to meet Moussa Sissoko's through-ball in stoppage time.

Georginio Wijnaldum starred in Newcastle's 2-0 win over Liverpool in December

A frustrated Jurgen Klopp had little appetite to dwell on the details in the immediate aftermath of the defeat, but Wijnaldum's display evidently made a lasting impression. In hindsight, it's obvious why. As well as producing the game's decisive moments, the 25-year-old ran further (11.9km), made more sprints (71) and won possession (12) more times than any of his team-mates.

Industry and cutting edge. These, of course, are the traits Klopp values most highly. Newcastle supporters would argue that Wijnaldum didn't meet those standards often enough, but only three Liverpool players covered more distance per game than Wijnaldum last season, and Klopp has seen first-hand what he can do in a high-intensity, high-pressing system.

Wijnaldum vs Liverpool's top runners, Premier League 2015/16 Player Distance per game James Milner 12.1km Nathaniel Clyne 10.5km Emre Can 10.2km Georginio Wijnaldum 10.1km Jordan Henderson 9.7km

Klopp now needs to decide where Wijnaldum will fit. It's an intriguing prospect. "Interested to see where he fits in," wrote Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher on Twitter on Thursday. "[Central midfield] alongside [Emre] Can? One of the three behind the striker? What's his best position?"

Klopp will ponder those questions in the weeks and months ahead, but with Benitez's comments in mind, Wijnaldum certainly presents options. He played most of his football as a No 10 at former clubs Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven, but his versatility is one of his biggest strengths. Over the course of his first Premier League season, he started as many games on the left flank as he did centrally.

Wijnaldum in action against Tottenham on the final day of last season

"If I can choose where I want to play, it is in the middle, but if I am needed to play on the left or right hand side, then I will do it," he told Sky Sports in December. "If it helps the team, it is good for me." That selflessness will have been noted by Klopp, who trumpeted the virtues of team spirit over big name signings as recently as last week.

The Reds boss already has Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino competing for the No 10 spot, so Wijnaldum is more likely to find himself back on the left-hand side of Klopp's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. That would allow Coutinho to move into the centre, where he is at his most effective, with new signing Sadio Mane providing a fresh option on the right.

Wijnaldum is at his happiest when given license to attack - "I am always searching for goals, and creating chances, from any position" - but Klopp could use him in central midfield, too.

Wijnaldum in action against Manchester United at St James' Park

Wijnaldum's numbers for tackles (1.0 per game) and interceptions (0.7 per game) last season were unspectacular, but his economical and intelligent distribution is a valuable asset, and his pass success rate of 84.8 per cent was higher than any of Liverpool's central midfielders in 2015/16.

The Dutchman has the engine to play in a box-to-box role alongside a more defensively-minded partner such as Can or Jordan Henderson in a 4-2-3-1, but Klopp may prefer to use him centrally in a 4-3-3, another formation he used frequently last season. The additional defensive support would give Wijnaldum a stronger platform from which to attack.

The imminent departure of Joe Allen certainly suggests Klopp sees Wijnaldum as a central option, but his flexibility opens up a host of possibilities. His first season in the Premier League ended in bitter disappointment, but Wijnaldum arrives at Liverpool with Benitez's endorsement. He is well-equipped to make a more lasting impact for Klopp's side.