Reds veteran Jordan Henderson has accepted personal terms ahead of a move to Saudi Arabia, leaving Jurgen Klopp with several choices as he eyes his next club captain

Jordan Henderson has agreed personal terms with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq (Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool wouldn’t just be losing an experienced midfielder if Jordan Henderson cashes in with the Saudis.

They’d be waving goodbye to their captain and leader in the dressing room.

Jurgen Klopp might get a few more quid to spend in the transfer market if the Reds agree a fee with Al-Ettifaq and the England international signs a mega-money contract in the Middle East.

But what he won’t be able to buy is the experience and leadership that they’ll lose should Henderson depart.

Klopp will have to appoint a new captain after vice-skipper James Milner left earlier this summer for Brighton. There are plenty of obvious candidates, though Virgil van Dijk would be a clear favourite.

The Dutchman is already a general on the pitch and he is captain of his country. It would be a seamless transition for him to take the armband, he’s worn it before in the absence of both Henderson and Milner.

There is a leadership group with other members at Anfield – Alisson Becker is in that group and is another who has taken the armband. But Klopp may fancy his skipper being an outfield player, who can communicate more freely with team-mates.

Virgil van Dijk is favourite to take over the captaincy (Image: Getty Images)

Scotland skipper Andy Robertson could be named vice-captain (Image: Getty Images)

Andy Robertson was elected into the leadership group when Gini Wijnaldum departed in 2021 and is a very popular figure in the dressing room. The Scot also captains his country so has experience in the role.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has spoken in the past how it is his dream to one day captain the club he supported as a boy. This potential opportunity may come a bit early for him, it would be a bold move by Klopp to give it to Alexander-Arnold given the other more experienced players in the squad.

You get the feeling that it will come one day, though. He may just have to wait until it changes again.

The opportunity may come too early for Trent Alexander-Arnold (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Mo Salah may be called up to the leadership group (Image: PA)

Mohamed Salah is now a senior member of the team and may find himself in the leadership group for the new season.

But, like Alexander-Arnold, he wouldn’t be a strong candidate unless Klopp wanted his new captain to be a leader in the way he plays more than how vocal he is among the group.

It certainly seems that Van Dijk would get the armband but we wait to see if Henderson gives it up by heading for Saudi Arabia.