Chelsea are reportedly among the teams considering a January swoop for unsettled Al Ettifaq midfielder Jordan Henderson.
The 33-year-old controversially ended his glittering stint at Liverpool to join the Saudi Pro League revolution in the summer transfer window, signing a three-year deal with Steven Gerrard's side.
Given his previous support for the LGBTQ+ Community, Henderson's decision to move to a country where homosexuality is punishable by death led to enormous vilification, although he has denied that he left Liverpool for financial reasons.
Henderson has been an important cog in Gerrard's system this season, setting up five goals in 19 games for his new club, but his efforts have only been good enough to help Al Ettifaq to an eighth-placed standing in the Saudi Pro League table.
Gerrard's side - who have often played in front of four-figure crowds - are 28 points below leaders Al-Hilal and have failed to win any of their last eight top-flight matches, leading to speculation that the former Liverpool midfielder's job is under threat.
Since his condemned transfer to the Saudi Pro League, Henderson has also been targeted by boos from England fans during international matches, and according to the Daily Mail, he now wants out of Al-Ettifaq.
The midfielder has supposedly been heavily affected by the tirade of abuse he has received for moving to Saudi Arabia, and he has also struggled to acclimatise to the humid playing conditions.
The outlet adds that Henderson would be willing to accept a mammoth pay cut in order to return to the Premier League, and he has informed his teammates that he will be considering his options over the winter.
A separate report from the football.london names Chelsea as one of the teams potentially prepared to offer the wantaway Henderson an escape route, alongside Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Fulham.
A return to the top flight of English football would also boost Henderson's chances of making England's Euro 2024 squad, although Gareth Southgate has continued to select him in the wake of incessant backlash since his transfer.
Al Ettifaq are not back in action until the middle of February owing to the Saudi Pro League's winter break, and Henderson wants any January offers to be 'seriously considered' by his new club.
Celtic and an unnamed German team are also believed to be monitoring developments surrounding the future of Henderson, who previously made 431 appearances in the Premier League during his time with Liverpool and Sunderland.
Chelsea added Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu to their midfield ranks this summer, but the former has struggled to impress, while Lavia and Ugochukwu have been plagued by injuries alongside Carney Chukwuemeka.
Andrey Santos is another option at Mauricio Pochettino's disposal after Chelsea recalled him from his unsuccessful loan spell at Nottingham Forest, although the Brazilian youngster could temporarily leave the club again for the second half of the campaign.
Santos will not be available for Tuesday's EFL Cup semi-final first leg with Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, though, having represented Forest in the second round of the competition this season. body check tags ::
