How Jordan Henderson could be 'blacklisted' from the Saudi Pro League if his agent does one thing

Jordan Henderson and other players have the potential to be "blacklisted" from the Saudi Pro League, it has been claimed.

It has been widely reported that Henderson has accepted a huge contract offer from Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq, after talks with Jurgen Klopp. However, the deal depends on the Saudi Pro League side’s willingness to meet the Reds' asking price for the midfielder.

Al-Ettifaq had reportedly hoped to sign the 33-year-old on a free transfer but Liverpool are demanding around £20million.

Indeed, Kalidou Koulibaly recently moved from Chelsea to Al Hilal for around £20million and the Athletic claim Liverpool "would view that fee as a reference point for talks" with the Dammam based side.

The Liverpool skipper has given a verbal agreement to join Al-Ettifaq, and if the transfer goes through it would end his 12-year stay at Anfield.

However, the deal could reportedly fall apart should his agent try to use Saudi clubs against one another, in an attempt to drive up his client’s wage.

Saudi Pro League rules

According to the New York Times, the Pro League recommended Saudi clubs a list of a couple of dozen recommended signings.

The list included players mainly in their early 30s, many of whom are out of contract at European teams.

The league also reportedly issued clubs with a set of relatively simple set of ground rules when looking to lure players to the division.

Firstly, any player commanding an annual salary of more than $3million (£2.29milion) would have to be approved by the league.

Meanwhile, teams are not to negotiate against one another, and any player found to be using one team as a bargaining chip to elicit a more lucrative salary from another side would be “immediately blacklisted”.

It is unlikely Henderson’s agent would attempt to do so, however, given the deal to join Al-Ettifaq will see the England international earn more than £700,000 per week, as per the Mail Online.

Henderson still has two years remaining on his Liverpool contract, which is said to be worth in the region of £190,000 per week, but the Saudi club are determined to quadruple the player’s salary.

Topics: Football, Transfers, Premier League, Jordan Henderson, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.