Jordan Henderson linked to Newcastle and Ajax, but Al Ettifaq will not be pressured into selling former Liverpool captain
Al-Ettifaq plan to hold firm and won't be pressured into selling or loaning Jordan Henderson in January, talkSPORT understands.
Henderson is due back for a training camp in Abu Dhabi from January 14 with face-to-face talks on his future scheduled with manager Steven Gerrard and sporting director Mark Allen.
The England midfielder is exploring options with Ajax, Leverkusen and even Newcastle United linked. The latter are PIF owned but it would prove a controversial move given the 33-year-old spent his youth and early part of his senior career at Sunderland.
Henderson has not to date informed Ettifaq he wants to leave. The club are also yet to receive any offers.
Any enquiries are expected to be channelled through both the club and Saudi Pro League sporting director Michael Emenalo.
A permanent sale is unlikely given the fee Ettifaq would expect, having paid £4m for Henderson and offered him a wage of around £8m-per-year.
A loan would only be possible if 100 per cent of Henderson's wages are covered and a loan fee is paid on top.
Ettifaq won't be forced to sell or offer a suitor any cut-price deal. The club also have other midfield options this window.
A loan deal for Al-Nassr's Seko Fofana has been discussed, although it is a very difficult transfer to pull off. And Al-Hilal's Saudi national team midfielder Abdulellah Al-Malki is a concrete target this month.
Sources in Saudi acknowledge Henderson may be concerned about his Euro 2024 place, although this has not been directly communicated to Ettifaq by the player.
It’s understood the club won't factor Henderson’s England selection into any decision-making. Should Henderson be allowed to leave, a move must financially benefit the Saudi club.
Henderson has been a key part of the
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