Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is mulling over a move to the Saudi Pro League.
The long-serving midfielder is at the heart of interest from Steven Gerrard's new team Al-Ettifaq. Gerrard is thought to be spearheading a push for Henderson’s services as he aims to kick off what is anticipated to be a lucrative recruitment drive.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are undergoing an overhaul of their midfield. James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left Anfield, whilst Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have been signed for a combined fee of just over £90m.
That could potentially see Henderson fall down the pecking order on Merseyside, and he is set to give real thought to the prospect of moving to Saudi Arabia. According to The Telegraph, the former Sunderland man is currently ‘wrestling’ with the dilemma of whether to leave Liverpool.
He is currently mulling over a move and should he give it the green light then that will give Al-Ettifaq and Gerrard the go-ahead to launch a formal bid to Liverpool. It is reported that leaving Anfield will be an emotional wrench for Henderson, whilst he is also set to take the implications on his international career into his thinking.
The 33-year-old has accumulated 77 appearances for England. He was also included in Gareth Southgate’s most recent squad.
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Whilst Henderson is expected to announce his intentions sooner rather than later, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp appears unlikely to take a positive view of a move. The German has previously underlined the midfielder’s importance to the Reds.
Spelling last year, Klopp said: “Nothing we achieved in the last few years would have happened without him, that’s easy to say. There are so many important things you do over a season to keep a group together, to keep a group going in difficult moments, and he is great in that.”
Meanwhile, should Henderson leave, that might lead to Liverpool needing to dip into the market for yet another midfielder. Southampton star Romeo Lavia has been linked with a move to Anfield.
A deal is not expected to be cheap though, with the Reds already bauking at the Championship side’s £50m asking price for the former Manchester City trainee. Chelsea and Arsenal are also thought to be tracking the Belgian.
Should he leave this summer, Henderson will round off his career with 492 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, with 33 goals. In that time, he has led the Reds to their first Premier League title, a sixth European crown and a whole host of other trophies.
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