Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino may have already hinted at a deal for former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson in the January transfer window. It comes as the Blues continue to be linked with a potential switch for the England international, just six-months after his move to Saudi Arabia.
Henderson won eight trophies in his time with the Reds before leaving them in the summer, having been part of a mass squad overhaul. The decision to join the Saudi Pro League was one that came under plenty of criticism, especially given the human rights record in the country.
The 33-year-old had been a voice for the Rainbow Laces campaign, looking to be an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, but the switch to Al Ettifaq put questions over his place supporting that cause. «I can understand the frustration. I can understand the anger. I get it,» Henderson told the Athletic in September on the backlash.
«All I can say around that is that I’m sorry that they feel like that. My intention was never, ever to hurt anyone. My intention has always been to help causes and communities where I felt like they had asked for my help. Now, when I was making the decision, the way that I tried to look at it was I felt as though, by myself not going, we can all bury our heads in the sand and criticise different cultures and different countries from afar. But then nothing’s going to happen. Nothing’s going to change.»
Fast forward a few months and it appears as though the time in Saudi Arabia could be short lived after recent reports claim that a move away is desired. Chelsea have been one of those teams linked, with Pochettino asked about whether the midfielder would be an option on the cards.
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