Gini Wijnaldum Reportedly Does Not Want to Join Barcelona

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.