Liverpool Captain Jordan Henderson Completes Medical Ahead of Move to Al Ettifaq
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is on the verge of completing a £12 million ($15.4 million) move to Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq, managed by former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard. The 33-year-old midfielder has undergone a medical in Manchester and is now awaiting the final paperwork for the deal to be finalized. Henderson is expected to sign a three-year contract with Al Ettifaq, bringing an end to his illustrious 12-year career at Anfield.
Henderson’s departure from Liverpool comes after the club agreed to an initial fee of £12 million with Al Ettifaq following negotiations between the two clubs. The Saudi club had initially hoped for a free transfer, but Liverpool made it clear that they would not grant such a request. Henderson, who joined Liverpool from Sunderland in 2011 for £16 million, has made 492 appearances for the club.
In addition to Henderson, fellow midfielder Fabinho is also expected to make a move to Saudi Arabia. Talks have been held regarding a potential transfer to Al Ittihad, who tabled a bid of £40 million last week. If both Henderson and Fabinho leave, Liverpool will need to make changes to their midfield.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has already made significant changes to the midfield this summer with the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai for a combined fee of around £95 million. However, Liverpool still lacks a specialist defensive midfielder, which may need to be addressed in the future.
The departure of Henderson and Fabinho would leave Liverpool light in midfield, especially considering that Fabio Carvalho has joined RB Leipzig on loan. Klopp may need to bring in reinforcements to fill the void left by the experienced midfielders.
Liverpool has shown interest in Southampton’s Romeo Lavia and Doucoure, but they believe the Belgian teenager is overpriced at £50 million. The club also has young talents Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, who had different campaigns last season but could see their progress slowed down by the signings of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai.
While Klopp has made new signings, the loss of experience in midfield will need to be addressed. Liverpool will have to find a balance between nurturing young talents and bringing in experienced players to maintain their competitiveness.
In conclusion, Jordan Henderson’s move to Al Ettifaq marks the end of an era at Liverpool. The captain’s departure, along with the potential exit of Fabinho, leaves a void in Liverpool’s midfield that will need to be filled. Klopp has already made significant changes to the squad this summer, but the club may still need to bring in reinforcements to maintain their competitiveness. It will be interesting to see how Liverpool adapts to these changes and continues to build on their recent success.