Club may not be able to afford to sign ‘outstanding’ Liverpool player now – journalist

Add as preferred source on Google

Real doubts are starting to emerge about Al Ettifaq’s ability to afford to sign Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

The Saudi Arabian side have reportedly already agreed terms with Henderson on an eye-watering contract. However, with Liverpool in no mood to sell him on the cheap, things have hit a stalemate.

And according to journalist Dominic King on Twitter, there are no genuine concerns that Al Ettifaq do not have the money that the Reds are asking for.

“Jordan Henderson latest: For all that Al-Ettifaq may be able to pay big wages, there’s doubt about whether they can pay a significant transfer fee (which Liverpool want),” says King.

“Al-Ettifaq don’t have the back of PIF, so their budget isn’t unlimited. Situation isn’t cut and dried.”

Doubts emerge over Henderson fee

Well then, this could be about to get very interesting indeed. Reading between the lines, it seems as though Al Ettifaq assumed Liverpool would let Henderson go for nothing, or next to it, anyway.

The thinking appears to have been: get the Reds skipper on-side first, then Liverpool will follow his lead.

Funnily enough though, the Reds aren’t in the mood to unexpectedly lose their captain on a free transfer. Who’d have thought it, eh.

It’s clear that Liverpool have the stronger hand here, and by the sounds of it, they’re more than prepared to use it.

And, frankly, so they should. We didn’t have Henderson pegged as a man who would hold this club to ransom, but here we are. If he’s that keen to go, he can pay the transfer fee himself.

Otherwise, maybe there’s still a way back for him in Jurgen Klopp’s squad. Jurgen loves him, he thinks his No.14 is ‘outstanding’ [The Daily Mail]. We know that. From our point of view though, we simply don’t see how that can happen now. Things have gone a little too far.

If Henderson were brought back in, then there’s absolutely no way he should carry on as the captain. How will the dressing room respect and listen to a man who quite publicly wanted to leave them all behind? Interesting times ahead.