LIVERPOOL are demanding up to £20million for Jordan Henderson to link up with Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia.
The Anfield skipper is on the verge of accepting a £36m-a-year deal to play for Al-Ettifaq, managed by ex-Reds team-mate Gerrard.
Liverpool are demanding £20million to let Jordan Henderson go
Henderson has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq
Yet Liverpool will fight for a decent fee for Hendo, 33, who has two years left on his contract.
Henderson — whose weekly wages would rocket from £190,000 to nearly £700,000 — is ready to gamble on his England future.
Henderson’s potential move to the Middle East is about more than just £700,000 a week.
The Liverpool midfielder could become the first top-level English player to take the Saudi wedge.
It would be a considerable coup for the Saudi regime to land a player who has been so outspoken about LGBTQ+ rights in the Gulf region.
And a move for Henderson could also have a huge knock-on effect for England’s Euros campaign.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate will be concerned that one of his first-teamers is about to move to a much weaker league ahead of next summer’s Euro 2024 finals.
Gerrard became the first English manager in the Saudi Pro League when he took over at Ettifaq earlier this month — and he wants Henderson to join him.
But the Saudis will be keen to avoid paying the £20m Liverpool want as they are already set to shell out massive wages.
And Hendo found himself under fire from Liverpool’s LGBT+ fans group Kop Outs, who are “appalled and concerned” that he is considering a move to Saudi Arabia.
Being homosexual or transgender in Saudi Arabia is illegal.
And Henderson has proudly worn a rainbow armband to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
Henderson would reunite with Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia
In a statement, the group said: “Kop Outs have valued the allyship shown by Jordan Henderson. We are appalled and concerned that anyone might consider working for a sportswashing operation for a regime where women and LGBT+ people are oppressed and that regularly tops the world death sentence table.
“We hope that Jordan Henderson proves to be a man of his word and stays true to the values of our club, which so far he has been an absolute embodiment of.”
Another team, Saudi champions Al-Ittihad, are looking at signing Liverpool midfielder Fabinho, although he could cost £40m.
No official offer has been made and the Brazilian has three years left on his contract.
But if both players leave, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp would be forced to continue his summer midfield rebuild.
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