Klopp betrayed, as crippling Liverpool exit takes shape with senior star considering quitting Anfield
Liverpool stars Jordan Henderson and Alisson Becker exchange words during a Premier League clash against Chelsea
A senior Liverpool star is ‘being wooed’ away from Anfield by Reds legend Steven Gerrard, with a report claiming an exit is now being seriously considered.
Liverpool’s primary focus this summer was overhauling a midfield that hamstrung their season at every turn last year. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have arrived, while Southampton’s Romeo Lavia is next in Liverpool’s sights.
However, given Leighton Clarkson, Arthur Melo, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left, Jurgen Klopp’s midfield ranks are more depleted from a numbers perspective than when the summer began.
As such, no further engine room exits are expected despite interest in Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson emerging from Saudi Arabia.
The links between Henderson and Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq are the strongest. Both the Daily Mail and L’Equipe have confirmed Gerrard is sizing up the 33-year-old who he played alongside during his later Liverpool career.
Losing Henderson would be a bitter pill to swallow for Klopp given he’s already waved goodbye to vice-captain James Milner. Removing club captain Henderson from his ranks too would leave a huge void in terms of leadership and experience.
However, according to a fresh update from the Telegraph, that’s exactly the predicament Gerrard wants to put Klopp and his former club in.
Henderson considering Liverpool exit; decision won’t take long
The newspaper states Henderson is ‘being wooed’ to Saudi Arabia by Gerrard, with Henderson now ‘considering leaving’.
The England international is described as ‘wrestling with the dilemma of whether to quit’ Anfield. Doing so would likely spell the end of his England career, though would obviously come with a gargantuan late-career payday.
The report acknowledges the experience angle, noting losing Milner and Henderson at the same time would represent a ‘massive shift’ within the Liverpool dressing room.
Henderson is under contract with Liverpool until 2025, though a factor that may enter his thinking is how much he’ll feature moving forward.
Henderson lost his place as a guaranteed starter last year and that was before Mac Allister and Szoboszlai arrived.
In any case, the Telegraph add the only way in which Al Ettifaq will lodge a concrete offer is if Henderson tells them he’s willing to sign up first. As such, if an offer does arrive, ‘it will be clear Henderson has decided to make the move’.
In that scenario, Liverpool will be faced with a big decision to make regarding a player who has led by example at the club, though is clearly now in the autumn of his career.
Thankfully for all concerned, the Telegraph concluded Henderson won’t dally and is expected to come to a decision ‘shortly’.
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