If Henderson leaves Liverpool, Klopp will go straight for ‘incredible’ midfielder

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Liverpool are waiting for a decision over Jordan Henderson’s future before making a concrete offer for Romeo Lavia.

Not many supporters would have seen this coming at the start of the transfer window. But it now looks likely that the Reds will lose their captain over the coming weeks.

Already arguably in need of further midfield incomings, that would make signing at least one more player an absolute necessity for Jurgen Klopp. Thankfully, Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri has claimed on Twitter that the Reds will go straight in with a bid for Lavia should Henderson go.

“Been told Liverpool FC waiting for Jordan Henderson final word about Al EttifaqFC before sending first bid for Romeo Lavia,” Tavolieri reports.

“Belgian player talked to Jurgen Klopp and wants to play for the Reds. Reds truly believe he is definitely a big prospect for the future and was waiting for making space in the midfield in order to make a step forward.

“Personal terms not a problem anymore. More news to follow.”

Liverpool ready for Henderson exit

From a purely footballing point of view, this move would make quite a lot of sense. Henderson’s importance to the team is on the wane and at times he looked physically spent last season.

Bringing in a 19-year-old who Pep Guardiola recently called ‘incredible’ [The Times] to replace him at this juncture would seem wise. Plenty of supporters will be fine with that idea, or at least the logic behind it.

But the fact remains that if Henderson joins Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in leaving this summer, the Reds will be short.

In bringing in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and potentially Lavia, Liverpool have definitely upgraded. In terms of numbers though, they’re down on last season. That will be a worry.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be that way, though. The reason Liverpool were struggling to make up the numbers last year was largely down to injuries. With Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Lavia surely more robust than Keita and Ox in particular, they may perhaps have just enough.

Add in the fact that Curtis Jones looks to have shaken off his injuries and Stefan Bajcetic is now a genuine option, and you can see our midfield transforming before our eyes.

There aren’t many positives to take from Henderson leaving Liverpool for a grotesque offer from Saudi Arabia this summer. This would at least be something to hold on to, though.