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Georginio Wijnaldum knew he had to join Liverpool when they came calling(Image: 2016 Liverpool FC)

One player who may sympathise with Alexander Isak’s efforts to force through a move from Newcastle to Liverpool is Anfield hero Georginio Wijnaldum.

Isak has been the subject of endless speculation this summer, with the Reds considered to be the frontrunners to secure his signature if he ends up leaving the north east club.

But his transfer is proving tricky to pull off despite the striker informing Newcastle of his desire to leave, with a £110million bid from Liverpool earlier this month being swiftly rejected.



The Dutch midfielder, now at Al-Ettifaq, was signed by the Reds for a fee of £25m following Newcastle’s relegation in 2016.

He went on to play a key role in the following seasons as Liverpool won the Premier League and Champions League - trophies Isak no doubt covets too.

Unsurprisingly, Wijnaldum had no regrets over joining Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, but remained grateful for the role Newcastle played in his development and claimed he did not force a move away.

Alexander Isak could follow in Gini Wijnaldum's footsteps(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Article continues below

Wijnaldum told the ECHO ahead of his 2017 return to play his former side: “I remember my last game for Newcastle in the pre-season when their fans were singing that they wanted me to stay.

"But when the opportunity came to play for a great club like Liverpool with such a great history I had to take it.

When Liverpool came in for me I made up my mind that I wanted to come here, but I wasn’t going to force it because I appreciated what Newcastle and their fans did for me.”

He added: “It’s always a special game when you play against your previous club.

I met some great people who helped me to play good games in the Premier League and it was because of them I got the move to Liverpool.”

Wijnaldum spent one season at Newcastle(Image: Getty)

Despite his warm comments about his year-long stint in Newcastle and not pushing for a move, as Isak is perceived to have done, the 34-year-old was accused of lacking fight and commitment before jumping ship by the Newcastle fans.

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Isak has enjoyed a far greater impact in his three years with Newcastle, being one of the Premier League's standout performers and scoring in the Carabao Cup final to end their long trophy drought.

In his first game back on Tyneside, Wijnaldum struck the post but struggled to have a meaningful impact in front of a raucous home crowd, who booed him whenever the two clubs met going forwards.

Wijnaldum went on to make 237 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 22 goals, including two against Barcelona in the 2018/19 Champions League semi-final second leg comeback as Liverpool went through 4–3 on aggregate.


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