Jordan Henderson is set to net a staggering £700,000 per week should he join Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia, with the Liverpool captain leaning towards taking the plunge, it has been reported.
Gerrard, who he took the Liverpool captaincy from, is now in charge of Saudi side Al-Ettifaq, and is keen to make the Liverpool veteran his first signing as manager.
An offer has been tabled to the 33-year-old, who has two years left to run on his current contract at Anfield, a place he has called home since 2011.
As per the Athletic, it is one that he is ‘leaning towards’ accepting, but is still ‘considering the life-changing offer which would quadruple his Liverpool salary’, with a decision expected to be made ‘imminently’.
It is easy to see why he may be considering his options. The Reds have undergone significant surgery in midfield already this summer, with the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in recent weeks, and yet more midfield additions are expected before the summer transfer window is over amid links to Southampton’s Romeo Lavia.
This, combined with the resurgence of Curtis Jones and the breakthrough of Stefan Bajcetic last season, has left Henderson’s place in the squad looking in more doubt than ever, though he remains an invaluable voice in the dressing room.
Southgate, however, is often reticent to pick players outside the Premier League, and several have found themselves constantly overlooked, a list which a move to Al-Ettifaq could see Henderson join.
There are also ethical questions to be considered. A long-time proponent of equal rights and the rights of LGBTQ+ society, Henderson would be making a switch to a nation where same sex sexual activity is considered an offence.
