Liverpool warned against Henderson transfer ‘mistake’ but former Red ‘loves’ midfield target
Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has warned the Reds it’s a “mistake” to allow Jordan Henderson to leave as they already “need a rebuild”.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner all left Anfield at the end of their deals this summer. Fellow midfielder Fabio Carvalho has also been loaned out for the season.
Fabinho could be soon to move to Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. The explosive exit of club captain Henderson is likely to happen soon, too, as he’s reached an agreement in principle to join Saudi side Al Ittifaq.
Former Red Enrique feels it’s the wrong choice from Liverpool to allow him to leave, given the amount of midfield changes that have already happened this summer.
“I think it will be a mistake for Liverpool to let Henderson go and they need to rebuild. It all depends on the backup options they are going to sign if Fabinho and Henderson leave,” he told Grosvenor Sport.
However, it seems the Reds have little option in the matter. Henderson has provided them with 12 years of service, so he’s given them enough to allow him to go if that’s what he wants.
Enrique seemingly believes a lot of the midfielders utilised by the Reds last season are not yet ready to have an impact at the level the club requires, so there’s a need to recruit beyond Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
“Who they bring in will determine whether or not it is a mistake to let them go and it will be interesting to see if they go with Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, I love them but they are too young to get Liverpool competing for trophies again,” Enrique said.
“But if they go into the market they have to make sure they get the right replacements.”
Of the potential replacements, Enrique has a favourite in mind: Romeo Lavia, who the Reds definitely have on their shortlist.
Enrique feels the Southampton man and Ryan Gravenberch would be the two best options, given their current status, and the ceiling they could both reach.
“I love Romeo Lavia from Southampton. It depends on the fee but I love him because he’s a Liverpool kind of signing; he’s a 19-year-old, very young but already has lots of experience,” he added
“Sofyan Amrabat is in the same position but it is a different signing for Liverpool because he is older so I would rather go for someone like Ryan Gravenberch for example, he is a very good option. If Liverpool let Fabinho go then I would sign Romeo Lavia or Ryan Gravenberch.”
It would be unsurprising if at least one of them was signed, and given recent reports, it seems very likely that Lavia will be.
