Jordan Henderson DID move to Saudi Arabia ‘for the money’ insists Chris Sutton… who questions if he could ‘stomach the fight for his place’ against Liverpool’s new signings on preview show ‘It’s All Coming Up’

• WATCH: Mail Sport’s preview show ‘It’s All Coming Up’ ahead of the big games
• Chris Sutton has questioned Jordan Henderson’s claims in his interview
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off!

By Kieran Lynch For Mailonline

Updated: 02:27 EDT, 8 September 2023

By Tum Balogun For Mailonline

Updated: 06:27 EDT, 23 August 2023

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TRANSFER GOSSIP COLUMN: Neymar could be set for shock Chelsea move after PSG exit, West Ham make fresh £30m offer for Harry Maguire and Liverpool see Romeo Lavia bid rejected

• Neymar has told PSG he wants to leave and could come to the Premier League  
• Moises Caicedo skipped Brighton training as he tries to force his Chelsea move 
• Premier League transfer window: Club-by-club list of all the summer moves 

By Adam Shergold for MailOnline

Updated: 02:10 EDT, 8 August 2023

New signing Rasmus Hojlund reveals that Erik ten Hag convinced him to make the move to Manchester United

• Rasmus Hojlund says Erik ten Hag played a big part in his move to Old Trafford 
• Hojlund has completed his switch to Manchester United from Atalanta for £72m

By Jeorge Bird For Mailonline

Updated: 08:12 EDT, 5 August 2023

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has completed his move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, with the England international signing a staggering £700,000-per-week deal.

Henderson had said his farewells on Monday as his 12-year association with the Reds came to an end.

The 33-year-old flew out to Saudi Arabia to complete his controversial move, with the midfielder signing a three-year contract. Henderson had undergone a medical in Manchester on Friday ahead of the transfer.

Confirming the news, Liverpool said in a statement: ‘We can confirm Jordan Henderson has completed a transfer to Al-Ettifaq. As his Anfield chapter now comes to a close, everyone at the club wishes to place on record their thanks and gratitude for everything Jordan did for us during his 12 years as a Red.’

Al-Ettifaq also announced the move on their end, writing: ‘A leader. A warrior. We’re simply thrilled to have him. Henderson is ETTIFAQ.’

Henderson had already been pictured training with his new team-mates after heading out to the club’s camp in Croatia to finalise the terms of his deal this week. 

It is thought Henderson spoke to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp at length about his likely playing time and his future role in the team before deciding to make the switch.

Klopp had left Henderson out of Liverpool’s squad for their opening two pre-season friendlies after Al-Ettifaq came back to the table with an offer the Anfield club were happy to accept. 

Henderson also held discussions with England boss Gareth Southgate over how a move to the Middle East would impact his international future.

He becomes the latest Premier League player to be recruited this summer by the Saudi Pro League, while he is the first prominent England international to make the switch.

The former Reds skipper has already faced criticism over the move to Saudi Arabia, which some have argued has undermined his public support to the LGBT community.

He had been vocal in his support of the rainbow laces campaign and ending LGBT discrimination in football. 

A Liverpool LGBT fan group said earlier this month that they were ‘appalled and concerned’ he was considering the move to a nation where homosexuality is illegal and persecution against gay people is widespread.

Henderson had been a crucial part of Liverpool’s side since joining the club for £20m from Sunderland back in 2011. 

In his twelve years on Merseyside, Henderson lifted seven major trophies – including the Premier League and Champions League.

He spent the last eight seasons as captain of the club, after succeeding Steven Gerrard as captain in 2015.

Henderson will be reunited with Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq, after the Liverpool legend was appointed as manager earlier this month. 

Unlike Saudi Arabia’s top four clubs, Al-Ettifaq do not have financial backing from the Public Investment Fund.

That led to the club agreeing a £12m deal with Liverpool through a structured timeline of payment.

Henderson will have to help Gerrard overcome a slow start at the club, which is based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia’s fourth largest city.

Al-Ettifaq have had two draws and two losses during their pre-season under Gerrard, having faced opposition from Croatia and Hungary.

Reports have claimed the midfielder could be joined at the club by former Lyon striker Moussa Dembele.

Al-Ettifaq are due to play two more pre-season friendlies before beginning their Saudi Pro League season by hosting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on August 14.

Al-Nassr have already signed former Manchester United full back Alex Telles and Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic this summer

While they are reportedly targeting a move for Henderson’s ex-Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane too.

Henderson could yet also be joined in Saudi Arabia by his fellow Reds midfielder Fabinho, who was left off of the club’s pre-season tour to mull over a £40million move to Al-Ittihad.

A flood of players have traded European clubs for the Middle East including Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy.

Real Madrid ‘tried to hijack Arsenal’s £65m move for Kai Havertz from Chelsea’ as ‘last minute phone call’ with German international is revealed

• Real Madrid launched a late bid to sign Kai Havertz prior to his Arsenal move 
• The German international left Chelsea after three years at Stamford Bridge
• The Spanish giants had long-term sights set on Havertz, but just missed out 

By Samuel Draper For Mailonline

Published: 03:51 EDT, 30 June 2023 | Updated: 03:58 EDT, 30 June 2023

Fulham boss Marco Silva ‘is believed to be considering a big-money move to Al-Hilal’ – as the Saudi Pro League continues their aggressive summer recruitment drive targeting the European top flight

• Manager’s £6m release clause could be easily taken care of by PIF-owned side
• Silva steered Fulham to a 10th place finish and just shy of best-ever points total
• Al-Hilal has already looked into Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, and Alvaro Morata 

By Tamara Prenn For Mailonline

Published: 02:55 EDT, 23 June 2023 | Updated: 03:24 EDT, 23 June 2023

Arsenal are set to complete their swoop for Kai Havertz after agreeing a fee that will guarantee Chelsea a minimum £65million.

Mail Sport revealed on Tuesday that the Gunners had made a verbal offer to Chelsea for their Germany international worth up to £60million.

And the deal has accelerated in 24 hours with the clubs agreeing a package for Havertz that will see Chelsea recoup a guaranteed £65million.

That deal includes additional add-ons that will inflate the final fee to between £67.5m and £70m.

Havertz has agreed a long-term contract with Arsenal, with Mail Sport reporting on Tuesday that Havertz has been offered a long-term contract which will see him earn a minimum £210,000 per week.

The player’s representatives have been in close contact with Arsenal representatives over the previous 48 hours knowing that an agreement was close. 

Havertz will undergo a medical in the coming days before signing his contract with the north London club.  

Having seen their original offer £50million turned down last week, Arsenal had continued talks with Chelsea over agreeing a fee for the Germany international.

Havertz joined Chelsea in 2020 and has been regular starter under the last five managerial periods at the beleaguered west London club. 

But despite the Blues willingly looking to extend the player’s current contract – which is due to keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2025 – Havertz is believed to be focused on securing a transfer.

As per ESPN, Arsenal have hinted that as well as operating as a No 10 or a No 8 in Arteta’s starting XI, the club plans to use Havertz interchangeably in any of the three attacking positions at the top of a 4-3-3 system. 

The Spanish manager is so convinced of the value of Havertz’s potential versatility, that Arteta is believed to have played a large role in ongoing negotiations for the player. 

Havertz has played a number of forward roles for Chelsea during his tenure at Stamford Bridge, but this season has been largely deployed as an out-and-out No 9 due to a striker crisis. 

Romelu Lukaku was loaned back to Inter Milan after a disastrous return during the 2021-22 campaign, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failed to recapture his once-fine goalscoring form, academy prospect Armando Broja suffered a horror injury, and David Datro Fofana – purchased in January – was seldom used.

Chelsea want to raise funds as they look to press ahead with their own recruitment plans. Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo is at the top of their list of summer transfer targets.

But Caicedo will cost at least £100m and Chelsea need to sell before being comfortable committing that level of money.

The Blues, meanwhile, are keen to appease Financial Fair Play rules and have been looking to sell a number of their first-team squad during the summer.

Eduoard Mendy, Mateo Kovacic and Romelu Lukaku have been linked with moves away, while N’Golo Kante completed a switch to Al-Ittihad on Wednesday.

Arsenal believe that Havertz’s versatility on the pitch makes him a must-win target for the club, according to reports.

The 23-year-old has supplanted Declan Rice at the Gunners’ primary focus, although Arsenal are confident that both of their top targets will make the move. 

Their interest in Rice comes amid the potential departure of midfielder Thomas Partey, who has been deemed surplus to requirements by Arteta.

With Arteta looking to rebuild his Arsenal side ahead of their return to the Champions League, the club will consider letting players leave. 

Southampton’s Lavia is another possible option in the centre of the park, but Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are also scouting the Belgian player. 

Meanwhile, Arsenal have been told they will have to increase their £30million opening offer for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber. The 22-year old Holland international is valued at around £50million but is keen on a move to Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta wants a versatile defender who is good on the ball and can start out at right back then fill in in midfield just as Oleksandr Zinchenko does on the opposite flank. 

There is confidence that a deal can be reached between the two clubs for Timber. 

Sky Sports axe HALF of their football reporting team in brutal cost-cutting move… with long-serving Geoff Shreeves told to take a significant pay-cut if he wants to stay at the broadcaster

• Sky Sports set to axe half of their football reporting team in cost-cutting plan 
• The exercise could see the exit of long-term interviewer Geoff Shreeves 
• Shake-up could put Soccer Saturday’s future at risk after Jeff Stelling left  

By Matt Hughes For The Daily Mail

Published: 17:30 EDT, 16 June 2023 | Updated: 21:07 EDT, 16 June 2023

Billionaire Ken Griffin, 54, wants to relocate the historic home of former Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan that sits on his $106.9 million estate, despite warnings it could damage the property.

The Chicago hedge fund tycoon made history buying the city’s most expensive listing to date when it was revealed in September that he’d purchased the four-acre property.

Villa Serena, the home of the three-time presidential candidate, who served in the House of Representatives from 1891 to 1895 and as the Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson, is one of two homes located on the estate.

But Griffin has been ruffling feathers among historians and preservationists from the area after one of his first orders of business was to ask the city to remove the former statesman’s home.

Experts have argued that doing so will not only devalue the 1913 mansion, but also put it in danger of damage or collapse, the Miami Herald reported.

Citadel spokesman Zia Ahmed told the outlet that Griffin wants the property to one day be opened for public use for the first time in its history.

‘This is just an idea in the very early stages right now,’ Ahmed said.

‘Ken’s team is exploring potential options wherein the general public would for the first time be able to visit and see this historic home at a different location.’

Griffin moved his hedge fund Citadel to Miami after a colleague was robbed while having a gun pressed to his head during a coffee run.

He purchased the waterfront property in Coconut Grove from philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, who is known in Miami for her $30 million contribution to the city’s performing arts center.

She also spent a significant amount of time renovating the home, which she used as a guest house and for social gatherings.

Griffin’s single property boasts old war charm and the grandeur and opulence of the Great Gatsby era. 

The billionaire businessman founded the massive hedge fund Citadel in Chicago in 1990, and, Citadel Securities in 2002. 

Griffin, however, is originally from Central and South Florida, having been born in Daytona Beach, and raised in Boca Raton.

The move back to the Sunshine State comes only months after Griffin moved his global securities firm’s headquarters out of ‘crime-ridden’ Chicago. 

The company had been located in the Illinois area for the last three decades, but left due to escalating violence in the state.

Griffin acquired the mega 4-acre estate located in Coconut Grove on Brickell Avenue – about two miles from his future Miami office, the Real Deal reported.  

The historic property features two homes – a two-bedroom, two bathroom guest villa and a 14-000 square-foot primary residence with five bedrooms, five bathrooms. 

The primary residence also has 20-foot-high ceilings, grand marble staircase, three living rooms, grand salon, dining room that seats 20, sun room and breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay with architectural detail throughout.

The guest villa, once occupied by Bryan, was built in 1913 and was on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by the late architect August Geiger.

The former owner of the estate was renowned philanthropist Adrienne Arsht. In 1996, she purchased the land for $4 million and built her main residence three years later. 

In 2007, she purchased the second property for $12 million that she transformed into a guest villa, court records show, the outlet reported. 

Colorful lush foliage, numerous ponds with statues of swans and birds, gorgeous inground pools, and tennis courts adorn the property.

Proceeds from the sale were said to be donated to a charity that Arsht was passionate about, according to CBS Miami. In January, the property hit the market at $150 million, but sold at 29 percent below that.

Griffin shared news of the company’s Florida relocation in a letter to employees. 

About 1,000 people work at its Chicago headquarters, and it is unclear how many will be making the move south.

‘Miami is a vibrant, growing metropolis that embodies the America Dream. I am excited to have recently moved to Miami with my family and look forward to rapidly expanding Citadel in a city so rich in diversity and abounding with energy,’ he said.     

Griffin noted that ‘many’ of its Chicago teams ‘have asked to relocate to Miami, New York and our other offices around the world,’ the letter read, NBC5 Chicago reported.  

Griffin added: ‘We recognize that the choice of where to call home involves personal, family, school and other considerations, and we will provide comprehensive support to meet the needs of our teams.’

The CEO has been vocal in the past about the Chicago’s escalating crime and violence. He said that some employees he knows have been mugged on their way to work and one even stabbed.

The company will be headquartered in Brickell, Miami’s financial district, and the move is expected to take several years. 

In the memo to employees, Griffin recalled the warm welcome he got in Chicago when he started his firm, The New York Times reported. 

‘I still remember the incredible civic pride and engagement when I arrived more than 30 years ago — and the outreach by business and political leaders who wanted us to succeed and be a part of the fabric of Chicago’s community,’ he wrote.

Citadel is just one of several major companies that have moved their headquarters out of the Chicago area.

Construction manufacturer, Caterpillar is relocating its Deerfield offices to the Dallas-Forth Worth area. 

Aircraft giant Boeing moved from Seattle to Chicago in 2001, and this May announced it was moving again, this time to Arlington, Virginia. 

Griffin is not the only billionaire businessman calling Florida their home. About 10,000 people moved to Palm Beach between 2020 and 2021, according to the U.S. Census, with more streaming in through 2022.

Since the start of the pandemic, thousands of New Yorkers have traded bleak winters for the Sunshine State, but some of the wealthiest among them are running into a significant supply issue – a lack of private schools that rival the elite education their children receive in the Big Apple. 

As a result, some real estate agents are losing out on big pay days as they see home buyers who haven’t secured a spot for their children delay the sale process. 

At the Oxbridge Academy in Palm Springs – where former first-son Barron Trump attends high school – spokesman Scott Siegfried told DailyMail.com that the school has a waitlist for most grades.

Enrollment numbers at Oxbridge have jumped from 510 to 562 in the last year alone, and a ‘strong applicant pool’ is expected for the coming cycle. Tuition at the academy is $35,000. 

Currently, the average price of a single-family Palm Beach home is $16 million.