McManaman tips Henderson to STAY at Liverpool as Reds captain ponders move

Steve McManaman expects Jordan Henderson to remain at Liverpool this summer, despite being heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq.

The 33-year-old has agreed a £700,000-a-week contract to join the team managed by Reds legend Steven Gerrard, but the transfer hangs in the balance, with Al-Ettifaq struggling to meet Liverpool's £20m asking price for the midfielder.

Henderson's future is currently unclear, but McManaman, who played for Liverpool between 1990 and 1999, expects him to still be at Anfield next season, and has explained his thinking.

'The fact he’s gone for pre-season training and that he came back to Liverpool looking fit, well and raring to go could be an indication that he’s not planning to leave. I personally don’t believe Jordan will leave,' McManaman told Betfred.

Henderson's potential move to Saudi Arabia has drawn criticism from a Liverpool LGBT fan group.

They released a statement last week claiming they were 'appalled and concerned' that he is considering moving to the Middle East nation where homosexuality is illegal.

McManaman believes Saudi Arabia's stance on same-sex couples will also be playing on Henderson's mind, and could make him think twice about moving as it could affect his family life.

'I believe Jordan will have to think about it, of course he will,' McManaman continued.

'Will he take his wife out there? Will he take his children out there? If you’re not going to do that and you go out there for two or three years, then it’s going to be an even tougher decision, so I’m sure there are many different factors weighing on his mind regarding whether he should go or not.

'If I was in his position, my principles would be that you can’t necessarily take your family over there, they’d probably have to live elsewhere, so you’d effectively be living there on your own.'

McManaman also feels Henderson's international prospects could influence his final decision.

Henderson has featured in the last six major tournaments for England, and started twice at last year's World Cup in Qatar.

However, McManaman thinks he can wave goodbye to his chance of making Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad if he opts to move to Saudi Arabia.

'I think his chances of getting into England’s Euro 2024 squad are finished if he moves to Saudi Arabia. He won’t get into the England team,' McManaman insisted.

'The football isn’t competitive enough, you can’t keep an eye on him, so it goes without saying that he will lose his place in the England squad if he moves to Saudi Arabia.

'He could go over there and be the league’s player of the year, but when you go over to a lesser league such as the Saudi Pro League, you give up your chance of representing your country because you’re not playing the highest standard of football.'

For the full interview, click here - https://insights.betfred.com/newsroom/steve-mcmanaman-i-dont-believe-jordan-henderson-will-leave-liverpool/