‘Accepted’: £25m player is no longer set for Newcastle return, he’s off to Saudi Arabia – Romano

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The Champions League draw meant that a former Newcastle United midfielder was braced for a St James’ Park return, but that is no longer on the cards.

Eddie Howe’s side have been placed in the group of death, with Newcastle set to face Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan in Group F of the Champions League.

It is an incredibly exciting draw for the Magpies, with AC Milan perhaps the most tantalising opponent. That fixture will see Sandro Tonali face his former club.

However, one man who won’t be returning to his old club in Group F is Georginio Wijnaldum.

Gini Wijnaldum set for Saudi Arabia move

That is because the midfielder is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain very soon.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Wijnaldum has accepted a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq.

They will pay PSG £7.7million for the 32-year-old, who is going to sign a three-year deal with the club that is now managed by Steven Gerrard.

Wijnaldum is the latest big name to head to Saudi Arabia, where he is going to rekindle his midfield partnership with Jordan Henderson.

However, the move means that the Dutchman will not be making a return to St James’ Park in the Champions League later this year.

Wijnaldum could have returned to Newcastle in the Champions League

With Newcastle being drawn against PSG, there was a chance, albeit a very slim one, that Wijnaldum could be set for a Tyneside return.

He spent one year at St James’ Park, and what a strange year it was. Gini was exceptional at St James’ Park, scoring 11 goals in his debut year. However, he was anonymous on the road.

His one and only season at Newcastle ended in relegation, before he was sold to Liverpool for £25million. Wijnaldum was much more successful at Anfield, where he won the Premier League and the Champions League.

Having left the Reds in 2021, it has been a while since Toon fans have seen Wijnaldum play at St James’ Park. The Champions League draw brought about the chance of a comeback, even if it was unlikely given how out of favour he is in Paris.

But with a move to Saudi Arabia now set to be completed, the chance of Wijnaldum playing in the Champions League against Newcastle has gone from very slim to impossible.