Al Ettifaq are under pressure to raise cash to pay Jordan Henderson’s £20m transfer fee

Jordan Henderson’s move to Al-Ettifaq is far from cut and dry, with the Saudi Arabian club under pressure to raise the necessary funds to sign the Liverpool star.

Henderson is the latest Premier League star to be linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, with the Reds skipper rumoured to be close to a reunion with former team-mate Steven Gerrard. 

The England midfielder has agreed a deal worth some £700,000-a-week, but a move may be put in jeopardy with Al-Ettifaq floundering to put up the fee needed to prise him from Anfield. 

His club are unwilling to let the player leave for nothing, and are thought to be looking for around £20million if they are to part ways.

Crucially, Al-Ettifaq were not one of the clubs to receive the backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). 

Jordan Henderson’s £20million transfer fee is proving to be an issue for Al-Ettifaq

Liverpool midfielder Henderson (left) could see his move to Al-Ettifaq hit a stumbling block

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are unwilling to part with their captain for free this summer

PIF, which owns an 80 per cent stake in Premier League club Newcastle United, took control of Saudi Arabia’s leading four outfits Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal.  

Henderson was due for talks with his manager Jurgen Klopp by the end of today, with a decision expected to be made on his future by the end of Friday. 

The initial indications were that Henderson would be reluctant to leave Liverpool at this stage of his career, and was worried about his England place with the 2024 European Championship coming up at the end of next season.

It’s understood that his family also had reservations about a relocating to the Middle East. 

However he is thought to have had second thoughts about the move and is seriously considering Al-Ettifaq, where he will see his wages quadrupled. 

His potential switch has also drawn criticism from a Liverpool LGBTQ+ fan group, who were reportedly ‘appalled’ that the player was considering a move to the Saudi Pro League. 

Henderson was nominated for ‘Football Ally’ at the LGBT+ Awards in 2021, having made headlines for his supportive tweet to Liverpool fan Keith Spooner during the Rainbow Laces campaign. 

Same-sex relationships are illegal in Saudi Arabia and women’s rights are also subject to heavy restrictions.

Steven Gerrard’s side have already agreed terms that would see Henderson earn some £700,000-a-week 

Gerrard is taking up his third managerial post after a distinguished playing career 

‘Kop Outs have valued the allyship shown by Jordan Henderson,’ the group wrote.

‘We are appalled and concerned that anyone might consider working for a #sportswashing operation for a regime where women & LGBT+ people are oppressed & that regularly tops the world death sentence table?

‘Gerrard’s participation in this sportswashing is particularly galling given his previous support for LA Galaxy teammate Robbie Rogers.

‘When someone’s made a fortune, should money tempt them to go to work? Maybe they should be asking themselves those questions.

‘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.’ 

The midfielder has been training with his Liverpool team-mates as pre-season begins, with Liverpool set for a bumper tour featuring friendlies in three different countries before opening their Premier League campaign at Chelsea. 

Liverpool have confirmed the £60m signing of Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai

Szoboszlai joins Alexis Mac Allister who signed from Brighton in a £35m deal last month

Mail Sport exclusively revealed last week that Henderson was a target for the Saudi Pro League club who appointed Gerrard as their new manager earlier this month. 

The Reds have already signed two midfielders this summer as their revamp in the middle of the park continues apace. 

Klopp’s side signed Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for £35m and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig in a £60m deal, with Fabinho also linked with a move away to Saudi Arabia alongside Henderson. 

Liverpool have also already parted ways with Navy Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the end of their contracts.