Georginio Wijnaldum joined Liverpool from Newcastle United last month.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane in action with Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum
Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has been quoted as saying by The Sun that he joined Newcastle United last summer despite interest from Everton.
Wijnaldum moved to Newcastle, then in the Premier League, from Dutch giants PSV in the summer of 2015.
According to BBC Sport at the time, the Magpies had to pay PSV a transfer fee of £14.5 million in order to secure the services of the Netherlands international midfielder.
The 25-year-old has suggested that he was thinking of joining Everton last summer, but a discussion with then Newcastle manager Steve McClaren changed his mind.
Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum in action with Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen
“Last year lots of clubs wanted to sign me,” The Sun quotes Wijnaldum as saying. “But I didn’t want to go to Italy, France or Germany — the Premier League was my aim.
“Everton were interested in me and I had a good feeling about them until I went to look at Newcastle.
“People in Holland don’t realise what a gigantic club they are. And after a talk with Steve McClaren I was on board.”
Georginio Wijnaldum
Wijnaldum scored 11 goals and created 48 chances in 38 Premier League appearances for Newcastle last season.
The Magpies got relegated from the English top flight at the end of the 2015-16 campaign and are playing in the Championship at the moment.
The Dutchman joined Merseyside outfit Liverpool from Newcastle last month. According to BBC Sport, the Reds paid the Magpies a transfer fee of £25m in order to secure the services of the former Feyenoord midfielder.
Wijnaldum has created six chances in three Premier League appearances for Liverpool so far this season.
Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum in action
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