Jordan Henderson is still too valuable to Liverpool to be sold to a Saudi Arabian side this summer.
Henderson has been heavily linked with a move to join Steven Gerrard’s new side, Al Ettifaq. Latest reports today suggest that the 33-year-old is actively considering leaving Anfield.
But according to former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, that isn’t going to happen. Murphy told TalkSPORT that he’d even still have Henderson in the Reds first XI.
“I think he’s got too much ambition to stay at Liverpool and win more things,” said the pundit, when asked about the Reds captain leaving for the Middle East. “He’s still super fit, super valuable would still be in my first XI at Liverpool.
“Two years time, even a year, if he wants to go Saudi, it’ll still be there. Henderson’s profile’s big enough for him to get a move [without Steven Gerrard].”
Henderson set for Saudi decision
We’re with Murphy on this one. Well, on half of it. We don’t agree that Henderson is still in Liverpool’s best XI. After the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai that certainly isn’t the case.
However, we do still think the captain has plenty to offer. He isn’t done at the club, far from it.
Although Hendo shouldn’t be a regular starter, that doesn’t mean he won’t be playing much. He need only look at the way James Milner’s final five or so years at Anfield went to see that.
Jurgen Klopp may have moved to replace Henderson on the pitch, but the £20m man would be far more difficult to succeed off of it.
In terms of leadership and acting as a figurehead for the club, few could do a better job than the former Sunderland man.
Klopp will know that and you’d think he’d be pushing for Hendo to make the decision to stay.
If he doesn’t, and Murphy ends up having to eat his words, it has the potential to overshadow what has been a good summer for Liverpool so far. Make the right call, Jordan.
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