Jordan Henderson’s massive transfer to Al Ettifaq will depend on the amount Liverpool is willing to pay the Saudi Pro League team.
According to reports, the club captain and former teammate Steven Gerrard have reached an agreement on a deal worth about £700,000 per week. That would virtually treble the England international’s salary, which are currently worth only £190,000 per week under his contract at Anfield.
Despite the 33-year-old verbally approving the move, the clubs have not yet agreed on a transfer cost. Henderson is still a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s plans for the 2023–24 season, and his contract isn’t up until 2026, so Liverpool is determined to receive compensation for losing a player who has long since established himself as a cult icon on Merseyside.
And according to The Athletic, senior figures at Anfield have dismissed suggestions that Henderson could be set to walk away for a low sum. They’ve cited the move of another former Premier Leaguestar to the Middle East, Kalidou Koulibaly, to argue their skipper is worth double the £10million fee initially quoted.
Koulibaly, 32, moved from Chelsea to Al Hilal for around £20million. And the Reds consider this sum the starting point for the man who in 2020, became the first Liverpool captain to lift a league title in over 30 years.
And he isn’t the only club midfielder heavily linked with a move to Saudi, with Liverpool also braced for a £40million bid for Brazilian international Fabinho from Al Ittihad. However, like with Henderson, of official offer has of yet been submitted.
Henderson has previously supported LGBTQ+ rights, therefore his suggested action has stirred some debate as well. Additionally, the anti-Gerrard campaign group Kop Out urged their captain to “prove to be a man of his word” and turn down any offer in a statement they released on Thursday.
“We are horrified and worried that anyone might consider working for a sportswashing operation for a regime where women and LGBT+ people are oppressed and that consistently tops the world death sentence table,” they stated.Jordan Henderson has thus far represented the epitome of our club’s ideals, therefore we hope he can prove to be a man of his word and uphold them.
Striker Roberto Firmino is one player who has already declared his intention to leave Liverpool and travel to Saudi Arabia. The Brazilian has committed to a massive three-year, £51 million agreement with Al Ahli.
