Klopp dealt brutal transfer blow as Henderson says his Liverpool farewells
Jurgen Klopp will not be replacing Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson with Sofyan Amrabat - as the Moroccan midfielder favours a move to Manchester United.
The Reds had plans to revamp their engine room in the summer transfer window and have already wrapped up deals for Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but interest from the Saudi Pro League in Henderson and Fabinho was not anticipated.
With the duo expected to complete lucrative moves to the Middle East, the onus is now on Klopp and the Liverpool hierarchy to replace two players who have been integral to the Reds team over the past few years.
After initially catching the eye during the World Cup, Amrabat has been consistently linked with a Premier League switch in recent months. However, recent reports from Italy have indicated that the playmaker has his heart set on a transfer to Manchester United and has no interest in joining Liverpool.
Amrabat's brutal stance means that Klopp will have to look elsewhere if he is to source an adequate replacement for Henderson before the start of the new Premier League campaign in three weeks time.
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Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich, another name linked with a move to Anfield, will not be that player, though.
The highly-rated Germany international has emphatically shut down talk of a summer transfer by insisting that he is perfectly happy in Munich and has no desire to seek a move elsewhere. He told the media on Tuesday: "I’m very certain that I will play the coming season at FC Bayern. I have no other plans."
Join the debate! Who would you like to see Liverpool target in the transfer market before the new season ? Let us know here.
Jordan Henderson is poised to complete a lucrative transfer to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittifaq (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Kimmich, 28, would have been regarded as a major a coup when it comes to replacing Henderson, who has agreed personal terms with Al-Ittifaq over a deal which will see him pocket a staggering £700,000-a-week in the Middle East.
The pursuit of the 33-year-old veteran has been driven by Reds legend Steven Gerrard, who was appointed as the Saudi outfit's new head coach earlier this month. Although a deal has yet to be officially confirmed, Al-Ittifaq and Liverpool have agreed a £12million deal for Henderson's services. The midfielder has also now said his goodbyes at Anfield as he prepares to put the finishing touches to the move.
Klopp has made it clear that Liverpool are far from done in the transfer market as they seek a replacement for their outgoing captain. He recently told club media: "There are so many things to do. The transfer window is open. If my day would have 28 hours at the moment it would not be a problem - I could fill them easily!
"Still three-and-a-half weeks until the first game of the season. A few things have to happen before then, definitely, transfer market-wise as well. That is clear now. And it will happen. New players have to come in. We will have a good team."
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