Transfer Gossip: Liverpool decide on £40m Jordan Henderson successor as £700,000 a week deal nears; Tottenham agree terms with major Postecoglou target
Jordan Henderson is set to leave Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool
Liverpool have decided on Jordan Henderson’s replacement as their captain nears a lucrative exit, Tottenham are closing on a top target in a £30m deal, while Thursday’s Transfer Gossip claims Everton are closing on a new 140-goal striker.
KLOPP HAND PICKS JORDAN HENDERSON SUCCESSOR AS LIVERPOOL EXIT NEARS
Liverpool are preparing to wave farewell to Jordan Henderson, amid claims the long-serving midfielder is angling towards a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
The England midfielder, 33, has been at the Reds since a £20m move from Sunderland in 2011. Since then, he has clocked up 492 appearances in all competitions and sits third on their list of all-time Premier League appearance makers.
Having also led the club through one of the most successful eras in their history, Henderson is, quite rightly, regarded as a Liverpool legend.
However, all good things come to an end and after 12 seasons, Henderson finds himself a man in demand.
Indeed, he is the subject of a massive offer from Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq. Managed by Steven Gerrard, they have made Henderson an offer worth a staggering £700,000 a week. That is worth more than four times his current saalry at Anfield.
As a result, The Athletic claims Henderson is leaning towards making the move away from Liverpool.
Over the proposed three-year deal they are offering, Henderson could pocket an eye-watering £109m, tax-free.
And while Jurgen Klopp would ideally like to keep his captain, he’s said he’s won’t stand in his way if he wants the move.
Multiple sources now expect Henderson to accept the offer to move to the Gulf State.
And while he will leave a huge hole behind on Merseyside, Klopp already has a plan in place to replace his captain.
Liverpool step up Romeo Lavia pursuit
Indeed, Klopp and Liverpool are already active in the market, having already made plans to snap up a third midfielder of the summer.
Both Alexis Mac Allister and Domini Szoboszlai have already arrived to the combined tune of £95m.
Their pursuit of Southampton’s Romeo Lavia is already well documented. To that end, an opening offer – reportedly in the region of £35m – has already been waved away by the Championship side.
And Southampton appear in no hurry to sell the 19-year-old, holding out for a fee of around £50m for the star.
As a result of Henderson’s exit, Liverpool feel they have no choice but to raise the stakes for the Belgian.
They are now expected to come back in with an improved offer worth around £40m. And while bonuses and add-ons could take the fee even higher, he is the man chosen by Klopp.
Southampton at least appear willing to let Lavia move on, having signed Man City youngster Shea Charles on a four-year deal.
TOTTENHAM CLOSE ON SIGNING OF MICKY VAN DE VEN
Ange Postecoglou is nearing another top Tottenham target with a deal for Micky Van de Ven closing in.
The Aussie boss is looking to make his mark at Spurs, having been chosen to lead their revival.
Indeed, Tottenham already have five signings in the bag, having sealed permanent deals for Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski.
And with Manor Soloman joining James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario through the door, it will be a very different Tottenham side in 2023/24.
However, Postecoglou is far from done and he next wants a new central defender to arrive. To that end, the club have been in talks with Wolfsburg for several days over Van de Ven.
The Dutchman officially clocked the fastest speed for any defender in the Bundesliga last season. And while he remains relatively inexperienced, Postecoglou believes he can be a huge success in the Premier League.
As it stands, Tottenham’s offer for the 22-year-old sits at £25m. Wolfsburg are reportedly holding out for £30m – and there’s an expectancy a deal shouldn’t be hard to reach.
To speed up the process, Football Insider reports that Tottenham have now also agreed personal terms with the player.
That will see Van de Ven sign a five-year deal at the club keeping him at Spurs until 2028.
In the meantime, Daniel Levy hopes to reach an agreement with the Bundesliga side over the fee.
However, there is a confidence the difference will not prove insurmountable. As such, Van de Ven should soon become signing No 6 of the summer for Spurs.
READ MORE ~ Tottenham transfers: Ange Postecoglou greenlights exit of key first team star as replacement waits in wings
EVERTON KEEN ON SIGNING MOUSSA DEMBELE, JAMIE VARDY
Everton are making a strong push to bring in free-agent French striker Moussa Dembele this summer.
The former Celtic and Fulham man is unattached and pondering his options after his deal at Lyon expired this summer.
Once rated in the £50m bracket and tracked by Man Utd, the 26-year-old could find himself at Goodison Park instead.
And according to Football Transfers, Sean Dyche’s side are making a strong push to bring Dembele to Merseyside.
Everton are desperate to bring in more attacking options this summer after scoring just scoring just 34 goals in 38 Premier League games last season.
And to clear the decks, Dyche is willing to let Neal Maupay join Ellis Simms, now at Coventry, in leaving.
Dembele has scored 140 goals from 337 games throughout his career, so certainly knows how to net.
And the article claims he could be joined by former England striker Jamie Vardy at Goodison.
He has been cleared to leave Leicester for a nominal fee following their relegation from the Premier League.
READ MORE: West Ham ‘enquire’ about key Everton player as David Moyes plots damaging raid on former club
