Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson reversed his decision to stay at Anfield next season after a second offer from Saudi Arabia came in.
Henderson’s future has been plunged into severe doubt this week. Having initially been seen as incredibly unlikely to leave Liverpool this summer, it now looks inevitable that he will.
But according to journalist Ben Jacobs, that wasn’t the 33-year-old’s initial plan. Writing for Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing, Jacobs claims that Henderson spoke with the Liverpool ‘hierarchy’ after rejecting a first proposal from Al Ettifaq.
The Reds captain reportedly told a portion of the club’s top brass that he was focused on staying at the club for the season. Henderson is claimed to have spoken of an Anfield stay being the best option to aid his chances of playing at Euro 2024.
However, once a second offer came in, the skipper is said to have changed his mind. Having spoken with Jurgen Klopp, Henderson reportedly now feels the game time on offer at Al Ettifaq would be ‘more beneficial’ than staying put
From Klopp’s point of view, the manager is claimed to have had ‘no issue’ in including his captain for the current pre-season camp in Germany. Despite his seemingly impending exit, the manager is reportedly ‘well aware’ that Henderson is a ‘top professional’ and would not cause any disturbance.
Henderson performs Saudi U-turn
You’ve got to laugh, really. So, let’s get this straight: Henderson rejected a first offer, deciding Liverpool was the best place for him to continue his England ambitions
Then, once a second – by all accounts eye-watering – proposal drops in his lap, he suddenly switches his position?
It seems highly likely that a move to Saudi Arabia would be the nail in the coffin for Henderson’s England career. Gareth Southgate has shown that he will pick the £20m man for his country, even if he isn’t playing for LiverpoolBut move to a league of far lesser quality than the Premier League, and you just can’t see it happening. As a result, you’ll have to forgive our scepticism on this one.
It’s probably likely that Jordan is keen to play more football than Klopp can promise him next season. He’s still got plenty of gas in the tank at will be at pains to prove tha
But jetting off on a ludicrously high contract to a league that’s trying to get off the ground doesn’t feel like the rebuke he might think it i
We don’t begrudge Henderson moving on.
He’s perhaps earned the right to leave on whatever terms he feels are right for him. With all due respect though, this doesn’t feel like the best way to go about things.
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