Liverpool transfer announced, but Henderson bid laughed off with astonishing Chelsea deal used as benchmark

Liverpool are playing hardball over the sale of Jordan Henderson to Al Ettifaq and are using a Chelsea transfer as a yardstick, though a second deal has been confirmed.

Henderson, 33, is being courted by Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq. The Saudi Arabian side have earmarked the Liverpool skipper as the ideal candidate to marshal the engine room and Henderson has been receptive to their pleas.

Indeed, Henderson has agreed personal terms with Al Ettifaq on a three-year contract.

However, Fabrizio Romano brought news of Al Ettifaq getting the wrong end of the stick with regards to the transfer fee.

Indeed, the Saudi club were initially under the impression Henderson would be allowed to leave on a free transfer given his advancing age and stellar service to the Reds. Liverpool, meanwhile, have zero intention of doing Gerrard and Al Ettifaq any favours.

Reports have suggested Liverpool will demand £10m before waving goodbye to their captain. However, according to Liverpool expert, Neil Jones, the true figure they seek is far higher.

Indeed, Jones told Empire of the Kop Liverpool have ‘laughed off’ the notion of Henderson moving for free. Furthermore, Liverpool will strive to hold out for closer to £20m, not £10m.

Explaining why, it was revealed Liverpool are pointing to the roughly £20m Al Hilal paid to sign Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea.

The centre-half endured a miserable first season at Stamford Bridge and new boss Mauricio Pochettino wasted no time turfing the Senegalese out.

Yet despite being unwanted in west London and aged 32, Chelsea were remarkably able to generate £20m.

Understandably so, Liverpool hope to do something similar with Henderson who is only one year older than Koulibaly, though is far more appreciated at Anfield than Koulibaly was at Chelsea.

Liverpool defender completes switch

Elsewhere, a transfer involving a rarely-seen Liverpool defender has gone through.

Colombian centre-half Anderson Arroyo is the player in question, with FC Andorra confirming they’ve completed a season-long loan via their official website.

Arroyo, 23, joined Liverpool from Fortaleza CEIF way back in 2018. He’s yet to make his debut and has spent the last five years loaned out across six different spells.

A seventh has now been confirmed, with a stint at Segunda Division side FC Andorra announced on Tuesday morning.

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