Barcelona have not been in contact about signing Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, according to Goal‘s Reds’ correspondent Neil Jones.
The former Liverpool Echo reporter has refuted claims in Spain that the Dutchman is poised to leave Anfield for the Camp Nou in a deal worth between €15m (£13m) and €20m (£18m):
Liverpool sources say there has been no contact at all with Barcelona over Gini Wijnaldum, despite reports in Spain suggesting a €15m deal was on the cards. #LFC
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) September 2, 2020
Wijnaldum has been heavily linked with a switch to Barca, both due to his contract situation and the arrival of Ronald Koeman as manager of the Catalan club. Supporters on Twitter are not sure what to believe:
Somebody's telling porky pies tbh………..
— 19?*Martin ingleson (@lfcmli4eva) September 2, 2020
Good dont want gini going
— Gavin Daborn (@gavdabLFC) September 2, 2020
— Vincent Vega (@88_nameless) September 2, 2020
Knocked this on its head but not saying anything about those Thiago rumours!
— Kush (@Kush30806923) September 2, 2020
Doesn’t mean he hasn’t agreed personal terms with Barcelona
— #19 Fu*kin Times!!! ? (@LFCinmyVeins) September 2, 2020
Fairly obvious Thiago comes in and Gini goes.
— ????? ???????? (@iam_emmo) September 2, 2020
Hope it stays that way
— ? (@Mc_Jim_) September 2, 2020
15 million euros? What toe does that get them?
— Paul Jones (@pjlfc) September 2, 2020
15 m? Ginis song is worth more than that. Would rather him leave for free than this disrespectfull amount especially since we need that money for thiago
— Ryan (@VirgilVandeezy) September 2, 2020
The Reds will be reluctant to let Wijnadlum leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, in a similar fashion to Emre Can two years ago. However, as things stand, that is the likeliest scenario with no active talks regarding a contract extension.
They would, though, almost certainly demand more than €15m for the 29-year-old, despite the player having less than twelve months remaining on his current deal. Whether Barcelona will actually make a formal bid before the transfer window closes, we shall have to wait and see.