Steven Gerrard lines up Jordan Henderson and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
REVEALED: Al-Ettifaq are ambitiously targeting Jordan Henderson as a big-name signing for new boss Steven Gerrard… but Liverpool captain still has two years to run on his Anfield deal
- Steven Gerrard targets Jordan Henderson and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
- Gerrard has been named the new manager of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq
- Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane are unlikely to be heading to Saudi Arabia
Jordan Henderson and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be two of Steven Gerrard’s first targets as Al-Ettifaq boss after he was appointed at the Saudi Pro League club.
Gerrard has signed a two-year contract despite initially saying he would not be taking up Al-Ettifaq’s offer following a visit to the Middle East last month.
Mail Sport understands that Gerrard’s former Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson is one of the possible signings being lined up.
The 33-year-old Liverpool captain has been at Anfield for 12 years and is still under contract until 2025, so it remains to be seen if he could be tempted by the riches on offer in the booming Saudi league even at this stage of his career.
Aubameyang is a year older at 34 and looking for a fresh start following a desperately disappointing season at Chelsea.
Steven Gerrard has been announced as the new manager of Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq
Steven Gerrard will target Jordan Henderson and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Al-Ettifaq
The former Arsenal striker moved to Stamford Bridge from Barcelona for £10.3million in September but scored just three goals in 21 appearances.
Aubameyang could become the latest Chelsea player to head to the Saudi league, following in the footsteps of N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy.
Other Premier League stars have also been targeted with Manchester City duo Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva receiving huge offers to quadruple their salaries from Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal respectively.
David de Gea is reported to be attracting interest from Cristiano Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr.
There has been speculation that Philippe Coutinho, another of Gerrard’s former Liverpool teammates who also played under the 43-year-old at Aston Villa, could link up with him again at Al-Ettifaq along with ex-Liverpool forward Sadio Mane.
However, it’s understood that Coutinho and Mane, now at Bayern Munich, are unlikely to move to Saudi this summer.
Philippe Coutinho was another Gerrard target but a move to Saudi Arabia seems unlikely
31-year-old, Coutinho is contracted at Villa Park but it remains to be seen whether he has a long-term future under Unai Emery. Coutinho’s appearances were hampered last season by a series of injuries that also saw him miss Brazil’s World Cup campaign.
Mane, meanwhile struggled in his first season at Bayern and had been linked with a possible move away from the Bundesliga champions.
Another name that could be in contention for a move to work with Gerrard is Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata.
Initial discussions over a move for the Spain centre-forward have taken place amid hope from Al Ettifaq that they can persuade him to become one of Gerrard’s first signings, with Atletico open to a cut-price deal for the former Chelsea striker.
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