One way or another, Jordan Henderson's Liverpool future could be resolved by the end of the week.
The Reds are due to fly to Germany on Saturday for a pre-season training camp and are planning for the trip with their captain in the ranks, as thing stand.
Interest from Saudi Arabia remains, however, and while Liverpool are yet to receive any official approach from Saudi Pro League clubs, it will be interesting to see if any encouragement is given from Henderson. At the age of 33, the Reds captain may feel it is time for pastures new after 12 years on Merseyside. Alternatively, the captain might believe he is best served staying put to put right a disappointing campaign last time out.
Here, the ECHO writers have their say on what Henderson should do - and the implications of a sudden and shock end to a storied and legendary Liverpool career.
READ MORE: Liverpool centre-back priority set to change as ideal transfer target clear
'Controversial move would be difficult to explain given campaigning history'
Paul Gorst: It's two years now since the future of Jordan Henderson was a subject of any sort of real debate. Having seen a slew of his colleagues sign new terms in the summer of 2021, the Reds captain remained without a fresh contract of his own as rumours circulated over interest from Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Eventually, the contract was signed, which was said to have been down to a personal intervention from Jurgen Klopp as much as anything else, as the skipper penned fresh terms that now sees him in his 12th year as a Liverpool player.
Interest from Saudi Arabia should not be totally shocking given the huge efforts being made by the Middle Eastern nation to raise the profile of their top league in recent months. Having already snared one of the most famous players on the planet in Cristiano Ronaldo and current Ballon d'Or holder in Karim Benzema, taking the Liverpool captain will only add another feather to their collective cap.
The real issue, though, is why would Henderson entertain such a move? While competition for a place in the midfield is likely to be at its most fierce since he moved from Sunderland in 2011, following the arrivals of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister - particularly given he is now 33 - a transfer to the Saudi Pro League would undo so much of the good work Henderson has done off the pitch, particularly the Rainbow Laces campaign for which he is a vocal ambassador for. To contrast that with a move to a country where same-sex relationships remain illegal would be difficult to square, however you painted it.
And that's before you even factor in the club's plans. Surely they would be unwilling to lose another major leader of a squad who won every top-level trophy available in the last few years? Henderson's next move will be fascinating but surely he is better off staying put, fighting for his place and leading Liverpool back to the Champions League.
'A transfer to Saudi Arabia is more trouble than it's worth'
Ian Doyle: Jordan Henderson may have lifted every major honour as Liverpool skipper, but there's one opponent that will forever remain undefeated - time. And there's no disputing the midfielder, now in his 34th year, is significantly nearer the end of his stellar Anfield career than the beginning.
Henderson has always shown himself willing to scrap for his place in the engine room but this season promises to be his greatest fight yet, given the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, the growing influence of youngsters Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic, and the debate over where Trent Alexander-Arnold is going to play.
He won't throw in the towel and is right to believe he has a part to play. After all, James Milner was still starting games for Liverpool way beyond his 37th birthday. And that there is strong interest from the moneybags Saudi Pro League indicates he is far from a busted flush.
But that Henderson hasn't publicly dismissed the prospect of a move is interesting. Is he genuinely having his head turned? Or is he taking advantage of the situation to invite a reminder of why he believes he remains hugely influential in Jurgen Klopp's squad?
Despite the lure of a huge salary and potentially playing for former team-mate Steven Gerrard, it would be curious if the England man is really entertaining the move given his backing of the Rainbow Laces initiative and history of campaigning which, for obvious reasons, would put him at odds with taking the coin of a country where same-sex relationships are illegal.
Henderson will leave Liverpool at some point. But it shouldn't be now, let alone a transfer that may be more trouble that it's worth.
'Now is not the time to leave and Saudi Arabia certainly isn't the place'
Theo Squires: Jordan Henderson was bemused when it was put to him that the 2022 World Cup could be his last. “Oh, wow! You chucking that out there, yeah?!” he laughed in disbelief in an interview with ITV Sport. “I’ve seen a lot of 36 year olds play in World Cups so no reason why I couldn’t!”
While the 2026 World Cup might be beyond Henderson, Euro 2024 at the end of the upcoming season isn't. As came across in his answer last winter, he's not yet at a stage in his career when he should be entertaining the possibility of departing centre stage.
Given he will gradually merge into a rotational option, with summer signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai likely to reduce his starting opportunities this season, you wouldn't be begrudge Henderson a move if he wished to seek out one final payday in the sun.
But now should not be the time to seek out a transfer, while Saudi Arabia should certainly not be the place. A leading voice and role-model in European football, he has spoken up time and time again when it matters. As a result, a switch to the controversial Gulf State does not sit well, nor should it. He is one of the last players you'd expect to embrace the Saudi millions, given the tainted backdrop that accompanies it.
He has won all there is to win with Liverpool, after all, captaining them to glory in every major competition, so has nothing left to prove. But his legs aren't done yet. He still has plenty to achieve with the Reds, starting with captaining them back into the Champions League.
With his contract set to expire in 2025, by all means reassess his future in 12 months' time once his place in Klopp's new midfield pecking order is clear. At the very least, if exiting then, leave Liverpool on a high. But not now, not like this.
