Al Ettifaq want to replace Jordan Henderson with another Liverpool star as Steven Gerrard raids former club

Al Ettifaq are reportedly targeting a Liverpool star to replace Jordan Henderson.

Back in the summer transfer window, Henderson left Liverpool for Saudi Professional League side Al Ettifaq.

However, after just six months, it has been reported that Henderson wants to leave the Middle East and return to Europe.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the former Liverpool skipper had reached an agreement to leave Al Ettifaq, with the midfielder likely to join Dutch side Ajax.

With Henderson set to leave, Al Ettifaq have reportedly identified their replacement.

According to 90Min, the club want to use manager Steven Gerrard’s links with Liverpool to bring Thiago Alcantara to Saudi Arabia.

Spaniard Thiago has been hampered by injuries since joining Jurgen Klopp’s team back in 2020.

Thiago has not featured for Liverpool since April 2023 and is expected to be out until at least February.

Apart from Thiago, it has been claimed that Al Ettifaq are also interested in Thiago’s teammate Joel Matip.

The central defender is currently sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which is likely to keep him out of action until the end of the current campaign.

Both players could join Al Ettifaq on a free transfer with their contracts set to expire in June.

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Klopp spoke about Thiago’s progress back in November, he said: “With Thiago it’s slightly different. It’s an ongoing thing. And we cannot put any kind of pressure there as well, but we expect him to be back probably start of the New Year.

“It’s now already November, that would mean another four weeks, I would say that’s probably a realistic thing to try.”

Klopp added: “We can’t wait, to be honest, to have him back. The player is just exceptional.

“I understand that you ask, but we can’t now have a week-by-week update, because that will not change a lot in this moment.”