One way or another, Jordan Henderson’s future at Liverpool may be settled by the end of the week.
The Reds are due to fly to Germany on Saturday for a pre-season training camp and are planning the trip with their captain in line as things stand.
Interest from Saudi Arabia remains, however, and while Liverpool have yet to receive any official approach from Saudi Pro League clubs, it will be interesting to see if any encouragement is given from Henderson. At the age of 33, the Reds captain may feel it is time for pastures new after 12 years on Merseyside. Alternatively, the captain may believe he is best served by continuing to make amends for a disappointing campaign last time out.
Here, the ECHO writers have their say on what Henderson should do – and the implications of a sudden and shocking end to a storied and legendary Liverpool career.
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“Controversial move would be hard to explain given campaign history”
Paul Gorst: It is now two years since Jordan Henderson’s future was the subject of any real debate. Having seen a number of his colleagues sign new terms in the summer of 2021, the Reds captain remained without a contract of his own as rumors circulated of interest from Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Eventually the contract was signed, which is said to have been down to a personal intervention from Jurgen Klopp as much as anything else, as the captain penned new terms that now see him in his 12th year as a Liverpool player.
The interest from Saudi Arabia shouldn’t come as a total shock given the great efforts the Middle Eastern nation have made to raise the profile of their top flight in recent months. Having already captured one of the most famous players on the planet in Cristiano Ronaldo and the current Ballon d’Or holder in Karim Benzema, taking the Liverpool captain will only add another feather to their collective cap.
The real issue though is why would Henderson entertain such a move? Although the competition for a place in midfield is likely to be at its fiercest since his move from Sunderland in 2011, following the arrivals of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister – especially as he is now 33 – a move to the Saudi Pro League would regret so much of the good work Henderson has done off the field, particularly the Rainbow Laces campaign, for which he is a vocal ambassador. Contrasting that with a move to a country where same-sex relationships remain illegal would be hard to fathom no matter how you painted it.
And that’s before you’ve even factored in the club’s plans. Surely they wouldn’t be willing to lose another great leader of a team that won every available trophy at the top level in the last few years? Henderson’s next move will be fascinating, but it is surely better that he continues to fight for his place and lead Liverpool back to the Champions League.
‘A transfer to Saudi Arabia is more trouble than it’s worth’
Ian Doyle: Jordan Henderson may have claimed every major honor as Liverpool captain, but there is one opponent that will forever remain unbeaten – time. And there is no doubt that the midfielder, now in his 34th year, is considerably closer to the end of his stellar Anfield career than the beginning.
Henderson has always proved willing to scrap for his place in the engine room, but this season promises to be his biggest battle yet given the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, the growing influence of youngsters Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic, and the debate over where Trent Alexander-Arnold should play.
He will not throw in the towel and is right to believe he has a role to play. After all, James Milner was still starting games for Liverpool well after his 37th birthday. And that there is great interest from the money bags Saudi Pro League indicates that he is far from a blown flush.
But the fact that Henderson has not publicly dismissed the prospect of a move is interesting. Has he really turned his head? Or is he taking advantage of the situation to invite a reminder of why he believes he remains hugely influential in Jurgen Klopp’s squad?
Despite the lure of a huge salary and potentially playing for former team-mate Steven Gerrard, it would be curious if the Englishman really entertains the move given his backing for the Rainbow Laces initiative and history of campaigning which, for obvious reasons would put him at odds with taking the coin in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal.
Henderson will leave Liverpool at some point. But it shouldn’t be now, let alone a transfer that might be more trouble than it’s worth.
‘Now is not the time to leave and Saudi Arabia is definitely not the place’
Theo Squires: Jordan Henderson was confused when he was told the 2022 World Cup could be his last. “Oh, wow! You’re throwing it out there, huh?!” he laughed in disbelief in an interview with ITV Sport. “I’ve seen a lot of 36-year-olds play at World Cups, so there’s no reason I couldn’t!”
While the 2026 World Cup may be longer than Henderson, the 2024 European Championship at the end of the coming season is not. As revealed in his response last winter, he is not yet at a stage in his career where he should entertain the possibility of leaving the scene.
Given that he will gradually meld into a rotation option, with summer signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai likely to reduce his starting options this season, you wouldn’t begrudge Henderson if he wanted to find one last payday in the sun.
But now should not be the time to seek out a transfer, while Saudi Arabia certainly should not be the place. He is a leading voice and role model in European football and has spoken up time and time again when it matters. As a result, a switch to the controversial Gulf state does not sit well, nor should it. He is one of the last players you would expect to embrace the Saudi millions, given the tainted background that accompanies it.
He’s won everything there is to win with Liverpool, after all, and he captains them to glory in every major competition, so there’s nothing left to prove. But his legs aren’t done yet. He still has plenty to achieve with the Reds, starting with leading them back into the Champions League.
With his contract set to expire in 2025, by all means reassess his future in 12 months’ time when his place in Klopp’s new midfield pecking order is clear. At least leave Liverpool on a high if you leave. But not now, not like this.