Jordan Henderson 'desperate for Premier League return' just months after leaving Liverpool

Jordan Henderson is considering leaving Saudi Arabia only six months after joining Al Ettifaq from Liverpool, according to a report.

The midfielder pulled down the curtain on a 12-year career at Anfield back in July to sign for Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq, reuniting with his former Liverpool and England teammate.

However, the report Henderson is 'desperate to return to the Premier League', while he would be willing to take a huge pay cut and potentially pay a tax bill of around £7m in order to secure a move this transfer window. His reported £700,000-a-week wage is only tax free if he stays for at least two years.

Henderson is said to be finding it hard to adapt to life in Saudi Arabia, while high temperatures and suffocating humidity are also contributing factors to his unhappiness. Al Ettifaq have also struggled to draw large crowds this season, averaging attendances of only 7,800 despite playing in a 35,000-seater stadium.

Gerrard is coming under scrutiny with Al Ettifaq eighth in the Saudi Pro League standings, while his assistant Ian Foster — who helped convince Henderson to make the move to the Middle East — left to take the manager's job at Plymouth Argyle this week.

Though Henderson would like to join a Premier League side, the report adds most top-flight English clubs would struggle to stump up the money needed to meet his wage demands even if he were to take a pay cut.

Henderson's move to Al Ettifaq has been heavily criticised after leaving England for a country where homosexuality is outlawed and punishable by death. He had previously been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.

The 33-year-old has made 19 appearances for Al Ettifaq this season, registering five assists.

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