Transfer Centre

Georginio Wijnaldum "laughed about" Liverpool exit talk

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 13 August 2018

Georginio Wijnaldum says that he "laughed about" speculation regarding his future during the summer as he has not contemplated leaving Liverpool.

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has laughed off rumours that he considered quitting the club during the summer transfer window.

The Netherlands international was expected to be one of the fall guys following the big-money arrivals of Naby Keita and Fabinho.

Wijnaldum performed well throughout pre-season, though, and was one of the star men in the Reds' 4-0 win against West Ham United in their opening game of the Premier League season.

Asked about talk of a move away from Merseyside, the 27-year-old insists that he has not contemplated his future and is more than happy to fight for a starting spot.

"I laughed about it. I also read I asked the club if I could leave," he told reporters. "I never had a conversation with the club. People from the outside just see Liverpool are buying players, so players who are already here are going to leave.

"Liverpool will always buy good players, even if they already have good players. That's normal. I think it has to be normal, because that means you're a big club.

"But that was something from the media that I was going to Turkey. Maybe because Phillip Cocu is manager [of Fenerbahce] and I worked with him for two years. I don't know who put it in the media but it wasn't me."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hailed Wijnaldum's display against West Ham as "outstanding".