GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM has insisted his rumoured move to Barcelona was never likely to happen.
The LaLiga giants were heavily linked with Wijnaldum throughout the transfer window but he stayed put at Liverpool.
Georginio Wijnaldum’s four-year stint with Liverpool will continue after Barcelona failed to sign the midfielderCredit: Getty Images – Getty
With the Dutchman’s contract up at the end of a season, a move to the Nou Camp is still reportedly on offer but he believes a fresh deal at Liverpool is also possible.
Wijnaldum told reporters: “I don’t think [the interest] was that serious.
“Otherwise you would have read a bit more, or more would have happened. There was nothing precise.
“The way it looks now, I will stay in Liverpool.
“My contract is valid for another 10 months and that can change.
“You never know in football. We will see what happens.”
It had been reported that Wijnaldum was leaving Liverpool to make way for Thiago Alcantara.
But the former Newcastle star, 29, has completed every minute of the Reds’ title defence thus far, including the recent 7-2 defeat by Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Barcelona completed a relatively quiet market in terms of incomings, with only Sergino Dest purchased during the window.
They shifted Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez, Nelson Semedo and Rafinha off their wage bill, but failed with a deadline day bid for Memphis Depay.
The £22million deal was reliant on Ousmane Dembele leaving the Catalans and, with Manchester United not interested in a permanent deal for the winger, Depay stayed at Lyon.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
