Jordan Henderson and Saudi Arabia: Pros and Cons of a Potential Move
The potential move of Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia has been a hot topic of discussion in recent weeks. With the 33-year-old reportedly offered an astronomical wage to join Al Ettifaq, the Reds will be seeking at least £20 million if they are to let him go. But what are the positives and negatives of a potential move for the club? Here we look at the pros and cons of Henderson making the move.
Pros
Financial Benefit for the Club
The first pro of Henderson’s potential move to Saudi Arabia is the financial benefit for the club. Henderson earns in the region of £190,000 per week, and his departure would add to the £500,000 freed up with the expiration of contracts this summer. Some of this has already been funnelled back into the squad after signing Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but the pot would still have plenty in it for more signings as Henderson’s current deal runs until 2025. The transfer fee, then, would go hand in hand with being reinvested back into the squad, for a younger player to form part of Klopp’s rebuild.
Forces Reinvigoration of the Midfield
At 33, Henderson’s role will have shifted towards taking over from where James Milner left off and a departure at this stage would force the club’s hand in completely rebuilding their midfield. It has been the area to address for some time but the captain’s departure would move up the timeline for the complete overhaul. The Reds’ midfield had an average age of 27.2 years last season and currently stands at 24.75 (including Henderson). Another young addition would see that average drop once more. Moises Caicedo, anyone?
It Just Makes Sense
Forgetting the destination, it does make sense for Liverpool to let Henderson go. He is on the decline and without assurances over his exact role, the business brain will tell Liverpool to cash in. After losing a handful of their experienced players on free transfers, the ability to recoup a fee and reinvest in Klopp’s next era is sensible. Loyalty and the heart may say otherwise, but Liverpool have been burned with that thinking in the past.
Cons
Losing a Key Leader
The biggest con of Henderson’s potential move is the loss of a key leader. He’s not captain for nothing. You can see him before you hear him, Henderson is never short on a word on the pitch, either praising, lambasting or encouraging his teammates. The veteran sets the standards and with James Milner having already left the club, it is a sizeable hole to fill for Klopp and Co. He has led with distinction on and off the pitch and his qualities are not easily replaced.
Another Homegrown Player Down
Once Henderson departs, Liverpool will be left with just three homegrown players in Klopp’s squad: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Caoimhin Kelleher (with Nat Phillips looking set to finally get his move). Now, there are ways of bolstering this in the transfer window for Liverpool – Romeo Lavia is one such example – but with an English tax placed on players, it will come at a cost. Curtis Jones can be added this season, but for a full squad in the Premier League and in Europe, solutions will need to be sought.
Legacy Altering
The final con of Henderson’s potential move is that it could alter his legacy. Taking the club itself away from this one, a decision to make the move will reflect on Henderson’s legacy and not for the better. It did not take long for hypocrisy to be associated with the captain, as homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia, and Henderson has long been a champion for the LGBTQ+ community. The absurd paycheck is one thing, but the human element of it all cannot be swept under the rug as an agreement is a silent acceptance of what is occurring in the region.
Conclusion
The potential move of Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia has been a hot topic of discussion in recent weeks. With pros such as financial benefit for the club, forces reinvigoration of the midfield and it just making sense, there are plenty of positives for Liverpool if they were to let their captain go. However, there are also cons such as losing a key leader, another homegrown player down and legacy altering that must be taken into consideration before any decision is made. Ultimately, it is up to Henderson himself to decide whether he wants to make the move or not – but whatever he decides will have an impact on both his own legacy and that of Liverpool Football Club.