Jordan Henderson has left Liverpool’s training camp and set to join Al-Ettifaq

Jordan Henderson has left Liverpool’s training camp to consider his future after the club accepted Al-Ettifaq’s £12m bid. 

Liverpool's captain was left out of his side's 4-2 win in Karlsruhe last night after Al-Ettifaq came back to the table with an offer the Anfield club were happy to accept. Henderson had held discussions with manager Jurgen Klopp earlier in the afternoon and the decision was mutually agreed.

Al-Ettifaq, who do not have financial backing from the Public Investment Fund unlike Saudi's four top clubs, were initially reluctant to come up with a transfer fee but after things stalled over the weekend they returned with a structure and timing of payments that met with Liverpool's approval.

This is a huge development, as it is clear Liverpool are planning for life without a man who has been at Anfield for 12 years, skippered the team for eight years and lifted seven major trophies; Klopp is aware of the level of interest in the story but felt unable to speak at length.

Klopp said: 'As long as things are not really finally decided, we don't have to talk about it. There will be a moment where we probably have to talk about it, but it's not now.

'I don't know that anything is decided, which means nothing to say in the moment. In the end, all of these decisions are made by me. And because I respect the players a lot, it's usually [with their] consent. It was in this case, and it is all fine.'

Henderson, as Mail Sport reported last week, has been offered a contract worth in the region of £700,000 per week but, crucially, he has not given Al-Ettifaq – who are managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard – a verbal indication about whether he will end his Premier League career.

It has been a tumultuous fortnight for the 33-year-old, who has spoken at length with Klopp in that period. It is understood some of those discussions revolve around his playing time next season and what his role would be going forward.

Klopp is well aware of how difficult Henderson finds being out of the team and the player would worry, too, about what a lack of minutes would mean for his place in the England set-up – he has spoken to Gareth Southgate, too, about how he would view a switch to a lesser league in Saudi.

Liverpool’s next game is on Monday against German second tier side Greuther Furth but Henderson, who has faced significant criticism since Al-Ettifaq’s interest became public, will not be involved as he will spend the next few days with his young family deliberating what to do.

Klopp has already allowed one key midfielder in Fabinho to stay at home while he debates a £40million move to Al-Ittihad and the prospect of not having the Brazilian or Henderson around for the season opener at Chelsea is not something he would have considered.

Aside from that, Al-Hilal have registered an interest in Luis Diaz with a fee of £50million being mooted for the Colombia international but Liverpool have no plans to sell.

What Liverpool will need to do from here is buy someone and they have a lengthy list of midfield targets in the increasing likelihood that Fabinho ends his five-year spell on Merseyside to link up with former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Trent Alexander-Arnold played the number 6 position for 45 minutes of an entertaining match in Karlsruhe, which Liverpool won thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and a late double from Diogo Jota, but they are considering other options.

They include Cheick Doucoure of Crystal Palace, Fiorentina captain Sofyan Amrabat, the outstanding Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, who has been on Liverpool’s radar for many months, and Manchester City anchor Kalvin Phillips.

Phillips is intriguing option, primarily because it is eight years since Liverpool and Manchester City last entered into negotiations for a transfer with each other and it remains to be seen whether last season’s Treble winners would want to business that would help their bitter rivals.

What Liverpool will need to do from here is buy someone and they have a length list of midfield targets in the increasing likelihood that Fabinho ends his five-year spell on Merseyside to link up with former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Trent Alexander-Arnold played 45 minutes of the 4-2 win over Kalrsruher – Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota scored Liverpool's goals – in Fabinho's number six position but it would be unrealistic to think he could switch straight from right-back. Liverpool, as a result, are considering a number of options.

They include Cheick Doucoure of Crystal Palace, Fiorentina captain Sofyan Amrabat – who excelled for Morocco during the World Cup – Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch, who has been on Liverpool's radar for many months, and Manchester City anchor Kalvin Phillips.

Phillips is an intriguing option, primarily because it is eight years since Liverpool and Manchester City last entered into negotiations for a transfer with each other and it remains to be seen whether last season's Treble winners would want to business that would help their bitter rivals.

Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid's outstanding France international, continues to be admired by Liverpool – they failed with an attempt to sign him in the spring of 2022 – but he would be reluctant to leave the Bernabeu as things stand.