14 July 2023 , 12:50
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Jordan Henderson's mega money move to Al Ettifaq will hinge on the fee the Saudi Pro League side are prepared to pay Liverpool.
The club captain has reportedly agreed a deal to reunite with former teammate Steven Gerrard, worth around £700,000 per week. That would nearly quadruple the England international's earnings, with his current deal at Anfield worth a paltry £190,000 a week in comparison.
However, despite the 33-year-old verbally agreeing on a move, the clubs are yet to agree upon a fee. And with Henderson still very much in Jurgen Klopp's plans for the 2023-24 campaign, and not out of contract until 2026, Liverpool are determined to be compensated for the loss of player who has long cemented cult hero status 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 League star 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.
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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.
Jordan Henderson's proposed move to Saudi Arabia has come under scrutiny (Visionhaus/Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Would Jordan Henderson be selling out by moving to Saudi? Comment below.
But Henderson's proposed move has also courted controversy, amid his previous support for LGBTQ+ rights. And Liverpool campaign group Kop Out issued a statement on Thursday where they condemned Gerrard for his managerial move, and also encouraged their captain to "prove to be a man of his word" and reject any offer.
"We are appalled and concerned that anyone might consider working for a sportswashing operation for a regime where women and LGBT+ people are oppressed and that regularly tops the world death sentence table." they said."We hope that Jordan Henderson proves to be a man of his word and stays true to the values of our club, which so far he has been an absolute embodiment of."
One player who has already confirmed a move to Saudi after leaving Liverpool is striker Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian has signed a three year deal with Al Ahli, worth a mammoth £51million.