Liverpool reportedly have no intention of accepting a cut-price fee for Jordan Henderson amid talk of a possible move to Al-Ettifaq.
The 33-year-old is believed to have verbally agreed a mammoth contract with the Saudi Pro League side, who are managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
Despite initial claims that Henderson was set to turn down a reunion with Gerrard in the Middle East, the Reds captain is now alleged to have given the green light to a £700,000-a-week contract.
While Al-Ettifaq have agreed personal terms with the England international, he remains contracted to Liverpool until 2025, and the Reds have ruled out terminating his deal and letting him leave for free.
It had been suggested that Liverpool would accept a bid in the region of £10m for Henderson – who earns approximately £190,000 a week on Merseyside – but according to The Athletic, Anfield chiefs have since rubbished those claims.
The report adds that Liverpool are still waiting for Al-Ettifaq to submit their opening proposal, and the Reds have noted down the £20m that Al-Hilal paid Chelsea for Kalidou Koulibaly as a benchmark.
Should Gerrard’s side fail to agree a price with Liverpool, there is every chance that Henderson could remain at Anfield, where he remains in Jurgen Klopp’s plans for next season.
However, the 33-year-old could struggle for regular starts in the 2023-24 campaign, as Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are expected to slot straight into the midfield trident.
Liverpool brought in the duo after losing Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner on free transfers, while Arthur is now back at Juventus following his forgettable loan spell.
The Reds could field an entirely new-look midfield next term, though, as number six Fabinho is also said to be attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, more specifically Al-Ittihad.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side – who have already signed Jota, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante this summer – are said to be readying a £40m bid for Fabinho, whose exit could force Liverpool to rethink their plans for the remainder of the summer window.https://3e568da9f898584ce78e3f85a39f836a.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html?n=0
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia are thought to be on Liverpool’s list of potential replacements, although Henderson and Stefan Bajcetic represent existing options to play in between Szoboszlai and Mac Allister.
Henderson has been on the books at Liverpool for 12 years since an €18m (£15.4m) move from Sunderland in 2011, and the midfielder was promoted to captain after four years upon Gerrard’s exit.
The 33-year-old has contributed 33 goals and 61 assists from 492 matches in that time, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Henderson failed to find the back of the net last season, but he set up three goals in 43 matches and started 23 Premier League games as Liverpool finished fifth in the table.
