KEY POINTS

  • Jordan Henderson is contracted with Liverpool until 2023
  • He has led Liverpool to Premier League and Champions League glory
  • Henderson recently completed 10 years at Liverpool

Liverpool FC captain Jordan Henderson’s future at Anfield is reportedly in doubt amid interest from European rivals Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Atletico Madrid.

The Reds are making no progress in talks with Henderson over a contract extension as the Premier League-winning captain’s current deal is due to expire in 2023. Liverpool’s sporting director Michael Edwards is prioritizing more pressing issues with the squad instead of the skipper’s contract, reported The Athletic. PSG and Atletico Madrid are understood to be monitoring Henderson’s contract situation at Liverpool.

Ahead of the new campaign, Liverpool were believed to be prioritizing the contract extensions of goalkeeper Alisson Becker and Henderson, according to 90Min. While Becker’s deal is close to completion, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has a credible record in the European market, Edwards is looking to offer new deals to Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to ensure their stay at Anfield gets extended beyond 2023.

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have always preferred to invest in youth and rarely offer lucrative deals for players in their 30s. They testified the same in the case of Gini Wijnaldum, who was not offered a contract extension. The Dutchman completed his contract with Jurgen Klopp’s side and was allowed to leave as a free agent this summer. Wijnaldum, who has joined PSG ahead of the 2021-22 season, will turn 31 in November and Henderson will be 33 by the time his current deal comes to an end in the summer of 2023.

The talks with Liverpool and Henderson’s representatives are currently underway but the negotiations are in a "complicated and sensitive situation," according to soccer website Teamtalk.

Henderson, who replaced Steven Gerrard as Liverpool's captain in 2015, recently completed 10 years at the Merseyside club.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was among the players to post about #PlayersTogether
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was among the players to post about #PlayersTogether AFP / Paul ELLIS

PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino is a known admirer of Henderson, who ended Liverpool’s wait of 30 years to lift the coveted Premier League trophy. He has also led the Reds to Champions League glory and interestingly, Liverpool had defeated Tottenham Hotspur, who were managed by Pochettino back then, in the 2019 final in Madrid.

In recent times, PSG have set a trend of signing experienced players on lucrative deals, as shown by their recent swoops for Sergio Ramos and Wijnaldum on free transfers.

RELATED STORIES