Brendan Rodgers faces a major struggle to keep Jordan Henderson at Anfield.
The 24-year-old captain-elect wants to stay with Liverpool but Sunday Mirror Sport understands there is no sign of agreement on a new contract.
And with his current deal having little over a year to run, that has put a host of top clubs on alert.
Talks about a long-term agreement took place in November but turned sour when an £80k-a-week deal was rejected.
There has not been further talks planned and the player and club are at three-month impasse.
Liverpool operate a relatively strict salary system and the offer to Henderson was understood to be a rise of £15,000 a week.
But after Rodgers made it clear Henderson would be the leader of his new-look Liverpool, that offer was seen as below market value by the player’s camp.
A decade ago, Steven Gerrard was being paid £100,000 a week.
Henderson’s advisers could also point out that key midfielders in other elite teams earn way in excess of - often more than double - £80,000 a week.
There is absolutely no suggestion Henderson is looking for a lucrative move. Quite the opposite.
We understand he is keen to commit to the club but this will be the most important contract of his career and as his current deal heads towards its final year, there is bound to be interest from big-name rivals.
Manchester City and Arsenal will both want to be kept informed of developments.
It gives Liverpool another contract headache.
They are keen to tie down Raheem Sterling but the striker’s agents want a deal that reflects his status as one of Europe’s best young players.
With the new £5billion TV deal kicking in the season after next, players and their advisers are likely to hold out for even bigger salaries but Liverpool cannot afford to pay the sort of money dished out by the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea.
But they are going to have to up the ante sharply and quickly if they want to avoid a serious fight for Henderson’s services.
The 24-year-old captain-elect wants to stay with Liverpool but Sunday Mirror Sport understands there is no sign of agreement on a new contract.
And with his current deal having little over a year to run, that has put a host of top clubs on alert.
Talks about a long-term agreement took place in November but turned sour when an £80k-a-week deal was rejected.
There has not been further talks planned and the player and club are at three-month impasse.
Liverpool operate a relatively strict salary system and the offer to Henderson was understood to be a rise of £15,000 a week.
But after Rodgers made it clear Henderson would be the leader of his new-look Liverpool, that offer was seen as below market value by the player’s camp.
A decade ago, Steven Gerrard was being paid £100,000 a week.
Henderson’s advisers could also point out that key midfielders in other elite teams earn way in excess of - often more than double - £80,000 a week.
There is absolutely no suggestion Henderson is looking for a lucrative move. Quite the opposite.
We understand he is keen to commit to the club but this will be the most important contract of his career and as his current deal heads towards its final year, there is bound to be interest from big-name rivals.
Manchester City and Arsenal will both want to be kept informed of developments.
It gives Liverpool another contract headache.
They are keen to tie down Raheem Sterling but the striker’s agents want a deal that reflects his status as one of Europe’s best young players.
With the new £5billion TV deal kicking in the season after next, players and their advisers are likely to hold out for even bigger salaries but Liverpool cannot afford to pay the sort of money dished out by the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea.
But they are going to have to up the ante sharply and quickly if they want to avoid a serious fight for Henderson’s services.
