Jordan Henderson rejects first offer as Liverpool contract talks stall

Liverpool reportedly faces a major struggle to keep Jordan Henderson at Anfield after the midfielder rejected the club's latest offer.

According to the Mirror, the English midfielder, who has just over a year on his current deal is keen to remain at Anfield, but is yet to reach an agreement with the club over a new deal.

The last discussion between the player's representatives and the club took place in November with the Liverpool management offering the midfielder a new long-term contract worth £80,000-a-week.

However, the midfielder's camp rejected the offer from the Merseyside club and they have failed to hold further talks as the player's agent believes that the midfielder is worth much more than Liverpool's current offer.

Henderson has been a revelation this season following his appointment as vice-captain and has taken his game to a new level in recent weeks after being given the armband in Steven Gerrard's absence.

He is tipped to take over as the leader of Brendan Rodgers' team once the former England skipper departs in the summer and this has prompted the former Sunderland player's camp to increase their demands.

The 24-year-old midfielder is keen to commit his long-term future to the club, but is hoping for a contract on par with the other top midfielders plying their trade in the Premier League.

Liverpool's Manchester rivals and Chelsea are capable of paying their top player's almost double of what has been offered to Henderson by the Reds, but the club are said to be unwilling to pay such high wages.

Henderson's contract issue is not the first for Liverpool as they are also in the process of tying down star forward Raheem Sterling to a new long-term deal, but have hit the same roadblock with his representatives, who are keen to see their client get a contract that reflects his status as one Europe's top players.