Steven Gerrard wants to sign ‘exceptional’ Liverpool midfielder as Jordan Henderson’s replacement

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Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is set to raid his old club once again in the summer.

Gerrard shockingly took captain Jordan Henderson with him last year as he went to manage Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq.

But six months on, and things haven’t gone to plan. Henderson is on the move already, with the 33-year-old set to join Ajax on a permanent basis. Gerrard meanwhile is on the brink after no wins in two months.

Nevertheless, it isn’t all bad news for Al Ettifaq. As journalist Ben Jacobs reports on X today, Henderson’s departure frees up some money to go after new arrivals. And according to Jacobs, Gerrard has his eye on another Liverpool midfielder.

“Ettifaq feel the [Henderson’s] exit has been amicable and on their terms and allows them to move in January,” says the reporter.

“They have already been active in the local market and are still considering [Roberto] Firmino and [Al Ittihad’s] Jota as loan options. Latter more likely and gettable. Come summer they will look at both Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip.”

Gerrard sets sights on Thiago

You kind of have to laugh really, don’t you. The Saudi project was billed as this great threat to European football’s hegemony over the game and the transfer market.

But although there may be some success stories out there, that no longer looks like being a realistic proposition.

Look at the names that Gerrard is targeting. Both Liverpool players on the list are out of contract at Anfield next summer. One of them hasn’t played for very close to a year now, while the other is currently just six weeks into rehabilitation for an ACL injury.

While both Thiago and Matip are very good players, that isn’t the best look for Ettifaq’s – or Gerrard’s – recruitment strategy.

Having said that – and feel free to call us dreamers here – but we’re still half-hoping that Thiago might earn himself a new deal at Liverpool. As Jurgen Klopp recently said, the former Bayern man is still an ‘exceptional’ player.

The 32-year-old is due back from injury soon. If he can prove himself to be a genuine option between now and the end of the season, then it would be good to see him stay another year. After being robbed of the past year of seeing the silky Spaniard, it feels like we’re owed that if at all possible.

Thiago has shown that he’s not particularly interested in a move to Saudi Arabia already. By all accounts the Reds No.6 could easily have left Liverpool over the summer. But he chose to stay put.

If things don’t work out at Anfield over the next few months though, Thiago will be on his way elsewhere ahead of next season. Henderson’s story should serve as a warning to any player wishing to follow in his footsteps, though. Gerrard himself perhaps may not even be there all that much longer. So Thiago should think this one through very carefully indeed.