- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Jordan Henderson may be leaving Al-Ettifaq but Steven Gerrard will now be staying for a while yet with a new contract in the pipeline.
Steven Gerrard has agreed a new deal with Al-Ettifaq, HITC Football sources have confirmed.
Al-Ettifaq have been rocked by the loss of midfielder Jordan Henderson this week.
Just months after signing Henderson from Liverpool, Al-Ettifaq are now set to lose the England international to Ajax with a deal close.
Al-Ettifaq have played down links that Gerrard’s job was in jeopardy and they have moved to cement his future in Saudi Arabia with a new two-and-half-year deal.
Gerrard took the job in July, looking to rebuild his managerial reputation after a disappointing spell in charge of Aston Villa.
Gerrard is losing one of his star signings in Henderson but is now gaining major job security with this new contract set to be signed.
How has Steven Gerrard fared at Al-Ettifaq?
Gerrard made a host of signings over the summer, including Henderson and his former Liverpool teammate Georginio Wijnaldum.
Jack Hendry, Moussa Dembele, Demarai Gray and Amin Younes also arrived with Al-Ettifaq unable to challenge Saudi Arabian rivals for the likes of Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane and Neymar.
Form has been a mixed bag under Gerrard; five wins in the first seven games was a pretty decent start, but Gerrard has now won just one of his last 12 games.
Al-Ettifaq’s problem has been drawing too many games, drawing six of those 12 matches.
Currently sitting eighth in the Saudi Pro League, Gerrard will be looking to strengthen his Al-Ettifaq squad moving forward and this new deal should come with backing in the transfer market.
Whether Al-Ettifaq move to replace Henderson right now is unclear, but Gerrard will certainly appreciate the job security after losing both Henderson and assistant manager Ian Foster, who recently became Plymouth Argyle boss.
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