PREMIER LEAGUE STAR IN CHILD SEX ARREST
Club act with a suspension
A MARRIED Premier League player has been arrested on suspicion of child sex offences, it emerged last night.
The 31-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has been suspended by his club while police investigate the allegations.
He was arrested last Friday by Greater Manchester Police before being released on bail.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: ‘Officers arrested a 31-year-old man on Friday 16 July 2021 on suspicion of child sex offences. He is on police bail pending further enquiries.’
A spokesman for his club said: ‘We can confirm we have suspended a first-team player pending a police investigation.
‘The club will continue to support the authorities with their inquiries and will not be making any further statement at this time.’
Last night the player’s agent declined to comment.
JORDAN HENDERSON is facing an uncertain future with a number of Europe’s top clubs waiting to pounce for the Liverpool captain. The England midfielder has entered the final two years of his contract at Anfield and his representatives held talks with the club’s hierarchy about an extension before the European Championship.
But Sportsmail understands the discussions were not fruitful and there is now an impasse.
As things stand, there is no indication when, or if, the talks will resume.
The 31-year-old is one of only five players to have appeared for 10 seasons in the Premier League for Liverpool and he has been a driving force in the success achieved during Jurgen Klopp’s reign as manager.
But there is now the real possibility that he will leave this summer because Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are monitoring the situation and will move for Henderson if the chance to sign him arises.
PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino is a huge fan of Henderson’s aggressive style and wants to add more dynamism to a squad being assembled with the aim of winning the Champions League.
The French club, who are also seeking to wrestle back the Ligue 1 trophy from Lille, would not have any issues being able to pay for Henderson and would like the idea of reuniting him with his former Liverpool team-mate Gini Wijnaldum.
Henderson won the Champions League in Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in June 2019 and his hard-running qualities would also fit perfectly into Diego Simeone’s system.
The situation will come as a shock to Liverpool supporters, who saw Henderson lead their club to a first domestic title since 1990, but he would be prepared to move if the club indicate they are ready to sell.
Klopp would be loath to lose a man whom he has come to rely on, particularly having seen the influential Wijnaldum leave this summer when his contract expired.
The German boss wanted the Holland international to stay but Liverpool did not meet the player’s demands and were prepared to let him walk away.
It is expected to be a busy summer for Liverpool in terms of contract renegotiations with key players Alisson, Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah all in line for new deals.
But Henderson now finds himself in a position where he could be the odd man out.