Gini Wijnaldum seems set to stay at Liverpool after liikely suitors Barcelona have had their hopes dashed by La Liga authorities.
New Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman had earmarked his countryman as a key signing as he looks to rebuild the fortunes of the Catalan club. Barca have fallen from grace in recent seasons and as reported on bettingtips.net they are distant second favourites behind Real Madrid in La Liga betting odds.
As talks to bring Bayern Munich star Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool intensified, it seemed just a matter of time that the popular 29 year-old will be on the move after a impressive four season spell.
However Jurgen Klopp seemed intent to keep one of his most trusted lieutenants and now that seems like that will occur.
The Mirror reports that Barcelona's dire financial crisis has forced them to shelve plans to sign the Dutchman with the Spanish league's governing body stepping in to block the move.
La Liga clubs are operating under strict financial guidelines following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Barcelona are struggling with a £510million-a-year wage bill and will not be allowed to buy Wijnaldum and Lyon star Memphis Depay unless they raise the money with player sales first.
They must also pay the same amount as the transfer fee to the Spanish government following financial help given to clubs during the health crisis.
For years, observers have wondered how the top two clubs in Spain have been able to cherry pick the best talent from other clubs and at the same time hold on to what they currently have.
But as Joris Evers, the La Liga's director of communications, explains those days could be a thing of the past.
“We have a financial system, which goes beyond UEFA’s Financial Fair Play.
“At UEFA they look at figures when a season is finished, we set the standards before the season starts.
"If Barcelona try to do a deal behind the scenes, our analysts will notice this immediately.
"The clubs agreed on this system as a reaction on a period when they were struggling to pay the wages of the players, because they'd overspent time and time again. Nobody wants to go back to that situation.’’
They say seven days is a long time in Football.
There was a bit of apprehension creeping in to the fanbase that with no fresh blood coming in, repeating the title triumph could be a task too far.
They say good things come in threes and in the last week we have seen Thiago and Diogo Jota complete deals and Gini more than likely to remain at the club.
One player who may be departing is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the Mirror reporting that Thiago’s arrival means he will slide down the pecking order and Wolves are planning a bid for the midfielder.
It is speculated that Liverpool will want in the range of £25 million for the 27 year-old.
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