Pray for Jordan Henderson in these ‘tumultuous’ times as Harry Maguire to Chelsea milked

Jordan Henderson is in a right muddle after being offered £700,000 a week and Harry Maguire is not gong to Chelsea but…

This is not the Hend
You have to remember that the Daily Mail‘s Dominic King is the co-author of Jordan Henderson’s autobiography when you read his updates on the story of the Liverpool captain potentially going to Saudi Arabia.

This time last week he was writing that it would be a GAME-CHANGER but not for all the reasons you might think. Nothing to do with Henderson’s LGBT+ allyship which has created headlines elsewhere, of course; that is oddly once again missing from King’s latest piece.

What King is very keen indeed to underline is that Henderson has not yet decided whether to go to Saudi Arabia. He claims ‘Jordan Henderson is set to leave Liverpool’s German training camp to decide whether to move to Saudi Arabia after Al-Ettifaq agreed a £12million deal’.

This reads a little differently to reports elsewhere, with The Guardian claiming that ‘Jordan Henderson is poised to join Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq’ and could have a medical in days, with the Daily Telegraph say ‘it is virtually certain he will join the exodus of stars to the Saudi Pro-League’. Both mention the LGBT+ allyship and the reaction from that community.

But in the Mail, King is still insisting that Henderson could yet stay at Liverpool, which is sweet but will surely end in tears.

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.

We cannot help but think that ‘crucially’ he has accepted a contract, Liverpool have accepted an offer and Henderson has cleared it with Jurgen Klopp.

King also claims this has been a ‘tumultuous fortnight’ for Henderson, for whom we are apparently supposed to feel sorry. The poor sod has been offered £700,000 a week to ditch his principles and that kind of decision really has left him in something of a maelstrom.

Sure he can dry his eyes on big old wads of riyals, mind.

TWIST and shout
Having entirely fabricated the idea that ‘Chelsea are also considering entering the race’ for Harry Maguire on Monday, The Sun are now getting all of the mileage they can out of the concept.

‘Chelsea rule out Harry Maguire transfer with England team-mate lined up instead of Man Utd ace’ is one headline, while the Manchester United live blog is headlined thus: ‘Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Harry Maguire to Chelsea TWIST, Andre Onana £47.2m deal imminent, takeover latest.’

Is it really a TWIST that a ludicrous suggestion clearly made at the behest of Maguire’s camp, who fed Charlie Wyett the line that Maguire was ‘angry, shocked and upset’ at the least shocking development in the history of all developments, turns out to be bollocks? The real TWIST would be if Chelsea did actually sign Maguire.

The most wonderful thing is that this TWIST has been entirely powered by this wonderfully dismissive line in The Guardian: ‘They are not interested in Manchester United’s Harry Maguire.’ The shortest of shrifts for a Sun exclusive which The Sun are now milking for clicks. Was ever thus.

Also on Maguire on The Sun website:

Ten Hag names first Man Utd captain since stripping Harry Maguire of armband and decision is huge hit with fans

Was is exactly the same Man Utd captain as a week ago? Of course it sodding was.

Omission statement
Nothing flies quite like an ‘omission’ and the Mirror absolutely know that. Which is how we get here…

Erik ten Hag makes Man Utd squad omission after club sent “cannot wait forever” warning

The player? Matej Kovar, obviously. But now you’ve/we’ve clicked.

The ditch is back
You know who else didn’t go to the US with Manchester United? Let MailOnline tell you…

Man United touch down in New York, flying straight from Scotland for next step of their pre-season, after ditching Jonny Evans, 35, to the academy squad… while Fred stays back with a ‘personal issue’

They ‘ditched’ a player specifically signed on a short-term basis to help out the youngsters. So cruel.

The Manchester Evening News really do know that but why let that get in the way of a ‘Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has already shown why he might be tempted by Jonny Evans transfer’ piece?

But if you use the word ‘unlikely’ twice in the very first paragraph, you should probably stop writing.

Saving public Ryan
The blatant grab for Ryan Reynolds search traffic by actual football websites is truly extraordinary:

‘Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham let Chelsea break blatant rule in pre-season friendly thrashing’ (The Sun)

Ryan Reynolds wasn’t actually there though. And how do we know?

‘5 things you missed from Wrexham vs Chelsea as Ryan Reynolds misses US tour opener’ (Mirror)

So what’s next for Ryan Reynolds after missing the friendly between Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham and Chelsea?

‘When could Wrexham sign their first American player under Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney? Phil Parkinson delivers transfer update following key rule change’ (Goal)

Typical Ryan Reynolds.