Gini Wijnaldum Reportedly Does Not Want to Join Barcelona

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Following talks with Jürgen Klopp the player is said to want to extend his current contract and remain at Liverpool

We’ve spent at least a month now being subjected to a convoluted transfer saga; a transfer triangle. One that insists Liverpool have lined up Thiago Alcantara, a 29-year-old with a year left on his current Bayern Munich contract, to replace Gini Wijnaldum, a 29-year-old with a year left on his current Liverpool contract.

If Wijnaldum departs, we’ve been told, then Thiago will arrive. And since a deal for Thiago has been lined up for at least a month now, Wijnaldum must depart. Probably to link up with former national team manager Ronald Koeman as he tries to steady the ship at Barcelona. Only, in the end, none of it might happen.

That’s the main takeaway from that latest via Sky today, who claim that Wijnaldum returned from international duty and held talks with manager Jürgen Klopp concerning his future—and the results of the talk were positive. Wijnaldum, it’s said, wants to stay with the Reds and now hopes to extend his Liverpool contract.

Last autumn, Liverpool attempted to extend his deal by two to three years while giving him wages on par with the likes of Jordan Henderson in the second tier of the Reds’ wage pyramid. However, either due to Wijnaldum wanting more term or simply a new challenge, talks stalled and eventually broke down.

If Wijnaldum is now determined to stay following his discussions with Klopp, it could signal a willingness to sign a shorter extension of the kind that was on offer rather than moving on. And if that happens, it’s exceptionally difficult to see where Thiago fits into a midfield with seven senior players already in it.

For those excited by the idea of a new signing it may be disappointing, but Wijnaldum’s importance to the side—his willingness to put team success and the implementation of Klopp’s tactics ahead of personal glory—should not be overlooked, and a new deal that keeps him at Anfield would be good news.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com