Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is expected to end the uncertainty surrounding his future after striking an agreement in principle to sign a new long-term contract with the Anfield club.
The Athletic revealed in July that talks between the two parties were not progressing, raising the possibility of Henderson leaving before his current deal ends in the summer of 2023. But dialogue continued and then advanced significantly when the 31-year-old England midfielder returned from a post-Euro 2020 holiday earlier this month.
Advertisement
Liverpool proposed an improved deal spanning three years with the option of a fourth contingent on how many appearances he makes. Henderson has not yet put pen to paper but that is the direction of travel and will come as a huge boost to the 19-time English champions and their supporters.
Manager Jurgen Klopp is understood to have played a pivotal role in turning around a complicated and sensitive situation, which nobody involved wanted to have a detrimental impact on the squad.
“It is important but it will happen,” the German explained about the process in a news conference on Friday. “We will sort it, however it will be. We will sort it. No doubt about that. It will get sorted.”
Klopp was determined to avoid a repeat of what happened with Georginio Wijnaldum, whose recent move to Paris Saint-Germain was a result of unsuccessful negotiations to renew his terms. PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino also admires Henderson while Atletico Madrid and Roma have been linked too. If Liverpool’s owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG) gave an impression they might countenance his exit, such suitors may retain an interest regardless of a new contract.
The Henderson impasse was not about money, rather his role in the team and how FSG view him going forward. The Sunderland youth product believes he can continue to shine in a way that inspired Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2019 and the Premier League crown a year later.
Henderson’s impact is underlined by statistics — Liverpool perform better with him in the line-up than without — and he did not wish to be retained by FSG if that was only for his leadership skills. The groin injury that disrupted his 2020-21 campaign was overcome as Henderson helped England to the European Championship final and although he was not included in Liverpool’s squad for the 3-0 win at Norwich City on Saturday, it is hoped he will be in contention for Burnley’s visit next weekend.
Advertisement
Henderson excelled in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Aston Villa at Anfield yesterday, alongside Thiago Alcantara and others who were in need of some extra minutes on the pitch.
He is said to have conducted himself impeccably throughout and is now on track to join Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Alisson in extending their careers on Merseyside over the past fortnight.
Frustrated Bellerin desperate to leave Arsenal
Hector Bellerin is determined to leave Arsenal this summer and is understood to be growing extremely frustrated at what he perceives to be a reluctance from the club to sanction his exit.
The 26-year-old right-back has two years left on his contract and believes the time has come to depart, a decade after joining from the Barcelona youth system. Bellerin is said to have made his desire clear to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu, and is even prepared to take a pay cut if it will help a transfer materialise.
Arsenal were speaking to Inter Milan about a potential deal but they failed to reach an agreement and while there has been interest from elsewhere, nobody has offered what Arsenal are seeking. A factor not conducive to easily finding an amicable resolution is the pandemic-affected market.
It is thought that Inter were only in a financial position to take Bellerin on loan with an option to buy — or an option that would become an obligation based on specific criteria — but Arsenal demanded a sale or loan with an obligation to buy, in order to guarantee that a fee would arrive.
Bellerin’s camp are believed to have taken other potential solutions to the north London side’s technical director Edu, though none of them have significantly moved the process forward as yet.
With Arsenal keen to strengthen in Bellerin’s position, one idea is a swap involving Barcelona’s 22-year-old Brazil international full-back Emerson Royal but nothing is advanced at this stage. It is a similar situation regarding Atletico Madrid’s 30-year-old England defender Kieran Trippier.
Advertisement
Bellerin has accumulated 239 appearances since signing for Arsenal in 2011 but his progress was disrupted by a serious knee ligament injury in early 2019 and he is now competing for a starting berth alongside Calum Chambers, Cedric Soares and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Arteta picked Chambers for Friday’s defeat at Brentford in the opening match of the Premier League season and despite the presence of Bellerin, Cedric and Maitland-Niles on the bench it was new signing Nuno Tavares — a left-back — who was introduced as a second-half substitute.
Part of Bellerin’s wish to seek pastures new is his hope of earning a place in the Spain squad for the 2022 World Cup, but whether either of those ambitions will come to fruition remains unclear.
Barnes set for new deal at Leicester City
Fresh from lifting the FA Cup last season, Leicester City got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start against Wolves on Saturday — and there is further positive news on the horizon for Brendan Rodgers’ side, with winger Harvey Barnes on the verge of signing a vastly improved contract.
Barnes’ existing terms do not expire until 2024 but his rise to prominence is set to be rewarded with a fresh four-year deal that Leicester are likely to confirm once the details have been finalised.
The 23-year-old emerged from the club’s academy and has become a key member of their first team. This has led to concrete interest from the likes of Liverpool but no formal offers have arrived.
Extending his stay at the King Power Stadium should send a clear message to admirers for the time being and also protects the value of a player who is hugely important to Rodgers’ squad.
Barnes was a standout performer for Leicester in 2020-21, scoring 13 goals in 35 appearances and making his senior England debut before suffering a season-ending knee injury in February.
He looked in good shape during the Community Shield victory over Manchester City earlier this month and started again as Leicester defeated Wolves on Saturday.
Kane yet to train with Tottenham squad as his future remains unclear
Tuesday marks two weeks until the transfer window shuts, something of which Harry Kane and Manchester City will be only too aware, reports Charlie Eccleshare.
Kane was not deemed fit enough to play for Tottenham in their 1-0 win over the champions on Sunday and is desperate to move to Pep Guardiola’s team.
Advertisement
He has yet to be integrated fully with the main Spurs group since returning to training on Friday but is insistent he will make himself available, with sources saying the England captain plans to be in contention for either Thursday’s Europa Conference League trip to Portugal or Sunday’s game against Wolves.
There is no active dialogue currently between City and Tottenham, and the London club are not expecting to sell. That, of course, could yet change.
Kane, who wants to leave to win silverware, signed a new six-year deal with his boyhood club in 2018.
City among clubs watching 6ft 9in Hudlin
Manchester City have taken a surprise interest in Solihull Moors striker Kyle Hudlin, the tallest outfield professional player in Britain, Gregg Evans reports.
Representatives from the Premier League champions watched the 6ft 9in forward in action on Saturday and have joined a number of other interested clubs, including Championship sides Middlesbrough and Cardiff City.
Hudlin, who turned 21 in June, scored nine goals in the National League for Moors last season after moving up from Step 7 in the non-League football pyramid. His rapid rise could continue if he earns another move in this transfer window, and with City now taking a closer look, the chase is expected to hot up.
City initially started video-scouting Hudlin before watching him in Moors’ pre-season friendly draw with Notts County over the weekend. They are looking for young homegrown talent to then send out on loan and help develop.
No dressing rooms for Brighton
Brighton players changed in a room usually reserved for conferences for their opening fixture away to Burnley, explains Andy Naylor.
The dressing rooms at Turf Moor are not big enough for the social distancing rules still in place for players. Social distancing continues to apply for away travel as well. Brighton still needed three coaches to transport the travelling party to and from Gatwick and Manchester airports for the trip to Lancashire.
Buddhist monks back at Leicester
It isn’t just fans who are back at the King Power Stadium: Buddhist monks have returned too to bless Rodgers and his players ahead of their Premier League campaign, reports Rob Tanner.
The monks from the Golden Buddha Temple in Bangkok have been regular visitors in the past and the club’s owners have annually held a pre-season ceremony on the pitch where the monks bless the turf, stadium and staff as well as the players.
Advertisement
The blessing involves water being flicked at those being blessed and sacred fabrics and wrist bands are also distributed to ward off evil spirits and bring good karma.
The global pandemic had kept them away, as well as chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, who was ordained as a monk at the Wat Thepsirin temple in Bangkok in 2015, but Khun Top, as he is known, returned for the FA Cup final in May and the monks have also returned to bless the club’s new £100 million training ground at Seagrave.
On Thursday, they could be seen in their distinctive orange robes outside the stadium, taking photos and clutching gift bags from the Fan Store after bringing more good karma to Leicester City.
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Sam Richardson)
