The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread - #DankeJürgen

[GalwayBayBoy]

Liverpool have added Jordan Henderson to their list of midfield targets for the summer as Kenny Dalglish prepares to test Sunderland's resolve to keep the England international at the Stadium of Light.

Henderson had been linked with a move to Manchester United earlier in the season as his impressive form earned a full England debut against France in November and prompted the Sunderland manager, Steve Bruce, to value the 20-year-old at £20m. Now Liverpool are keen on the Sunderland-born talent and with their owner, Fenway Sports Group, allocating a substantial transfer budget to Dalglish, they have the means to prise Henderson away from his boyhood club.

Sunderland have dismissed claims that they had received and rejected a £13m offer from Liverpool for the midfielder, and the Anfield club refused to make any comment on the potential transfer. However Henderson's club are aware of Liverpool's interest and expect that to develop into a firm bid during the close season. The midfielder is in Stuart Pearce's squad for the European Under-21 Championship in Denmark this month, and his future is unlikely to be resolved before that competition is over.

Bruce would be opposed to losing a player he has championed since Henderson established himself in the Sunderland first team two seasons ago and who signed a five-year contract with the club in April 2010. The Sunderland manager is determined to rebuild with "eight or nine" new players this summer and has £18m to spend from the sale of Darren Bent to Aston Villa in January. But a major offer for Henderson would assist his attempted revamp, particularly if the player were receptive to an Anfield move.

Dalglish is keen to add more quality to the Liverpool midfield next season. Though Henderson impressed in central midfield in his first full campaign for Sunderland, he is also comfortable on the right of midfield and his crossing ability would appeal to a manager seeking to improve the supply to Andy Carroll. The Aston Villa pair of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young are also on Dalglish's wanted list, as is Blackpool's Charlie Adam, although he faces competition from Manchester United for Young and a difficult task to prise Downing from Villa Park. Villa are resigned to losing Young this summer but are reluctant to let Downing go too, even though the England international is refusing to extend a contract that has two years remaining and has begun publicly agitating for an exit from the Midlands.

[charlie stubbs]

what would people think of henderson?good player imo, though not the wide player we seek.  20 million quoted could be better spent?

[Capt Pat]

Who is he? That is all I have to say about him.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Who is he? That is all I have to say about him.

Flagged as the next big thing in English football*

* see Theo Walcott, Jack Rodwell, etc.

In fairness he could turn into a very good player but you'd hate to pay the extra transfer premium just because he's English.

[Minder]

Search for youth leads Liverpool to Wickham

The Times


Tony Barrett, James Ducker

Liverpool's pursuit of the best available young English players has led to an offer of almost £8 million being lodged with Ipswich Town for Connor Wickham. The club are also stepping up their attempt to sign Jordan Henderson, the Sunderland midfield player.
Wickham, who scored nine goals last season, is valued at £10 million by Ipswich and the 18-year-old centre forward has also been targeted by Tottenham Hotspur. However, Liverpool are confident that the opportunity to become part of an array of attacking talent that includes Luis Suárez and Andy Carroll will convince Wickham that his future lies at Anfield rather than White Hart Lane.
Damien Comolli, Liverpool's director of football, watched Wickham on several occasions last season and is understood to have been impressed by his all-round game, regarding the England Under-21 international as a potential star of the future.
Although their opening offer is likely to be rejected by Ipswich, Liverpool are hopeful that a compromise fee can be reached that will suit both clubs.
Liverpool's transfer strategy this summer is built on a determination to sign players for the future who can also play an immediate part in Kenny Dalglish's squad. The desire to lower the average age of the club's playing staff is derived from the ambition of John W. Henry, Liverpool's principal owner, to oversee the creation of a team who can challenge for leading honours for years to come, rather than just in the coming season.
The Merseyside club's transfer targets will be predominantly drawn from players under the age of 26. There will be exceptions to the rule under certain circumstances, but the long-term strategy is built around constructing a young, vibrant squad that is capable of playing fast flowing, attacking football.
No deal has yet been struck between Liverpool and Sunderland for Henderson, but the Anfield club are looking for a fee to be agreed before the 20-year-old goes to Denmark with the England Under-21 squad next Wednesday for the European Championship.
Neither Liverpool nor Sunderland would confirm whether an offer has been made for the player, but talks have taken place in which the North East club have made it clear that they would not accept the £15 million offer that Comolli was hoping would be sufficient to secure the transfer.
It is thought that Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, is holding out for about £18 million for Henderson, who has attracted interest from Manchester United and Manchester City over the past 12 months. Liverpool are unlikely to meet that price, but are believed to be ready to return with a bid in the region of £16 million as they continue with their recruitment plans for the coming season.
As revealed in April, Phil Jones, the Blackburn Rovers central defender, is another target for Liverpool, who are expecting a busy summer in the transfer market, according to Comolli.
Steve Kean, the Blackburn manager, warned Jones this week that he may struggle to secure a first-team place at a top Barclays Premier League club, but the defender is thought to have set his heart on a move away from Ewood Park.
Liverpool face competition from Arsenal for Jones, with Arsène Wenger, the North London club's manager, eager to build his defence around the 19-year-old England Under-21 international and Thomas Vermaelen, the Belgium centre back whose long-term absence with an Achilles tendon injury was keenly felt last season.
Blackburn also face a battle to keep Christopher Samba, with Tottenham interested in the defender.
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[Puckoon]

Jan molby hitting the hard stuff again.

Dirk kyut would make the barca first 11? How much do you think they'll offer for him boys?

[GalwayBayBoy]

Jordan Henderson may become a Liverpool player before he departs for the European Under-21 Championship providing the club raise their offer for the Sunderland midfielder towards £20m.

Sunderland and Liverpool officials opened talks last week and there is acceptance at the Stadium of Light that the 20-year-old will leave if the £20m valuation Steve Bruce, the manager, has placed on the midfielder is met.

Liverpool are understood to have increased their initial offer of £13m to around £16m over the weekend. Sunderland rejected both bids but, with Henderson keen to have his future resolved before the Under-21 tournament in Denmark, another improved offer from Liverpool may secure Kenny Dalglish the first of several major transfers expected at Anfield this summer.

Sunderland are not under pressure to sell a home-grown player who committed to a new five-year contract at the club in April 2010. However, with Henderson receptive to a move to Anfield, Liverpool's owner, Fenway Sports Group, edging closer to Sunderland's asking price and talks continuing between the clubs, a resolution may arrive before the midfielder teams up with Stuart Pearce's England squad on Wednesday.

Manchester United were linked with Henderson when his fine start to the season earned a call-up to the senior England side for their friendly against France in November. But Liverpool have made the more concerted effort to clinch his signature, even though the midfielder's form dipped as Sunderland dropped down the table in the second half of the campaign and he was booed by the club's supporters at one point.

Dalglish envisages a central midfield role for Henderson at Anfield, despite appearing to be well stocked in that department with Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva, Raul Meireles and the emergence of Jay Spearing. The Sunderland player has also operated on the right of midfield since establishing himself in Bruce's team but prefers to play in the middle, as the Liverpool manager has noted.

There is a desire from Liverpool's director of football, Damien Comolli, to sign young talent although, should the club pay £20m for Henderson, it would reflect a willingness to spend heavily in the interests of Champions League qualification rather than securing emerging players at a more cost-effective stage. Ashley Young, another Anfield target, appeared to tilt the contest for his signature towards Manchester United following England's draw with Switzerland on Saturday when he expressed his wish to play in the Champions League.

Bruce is keen to address Sunderland's alarming slide since January by acquiring "eight or nine" players this summer. The Sunderland manager still has available the initial £18m received from Aston Villa for Darren Bent, and £20m for Henderson – a player he has heralded as one of the finest prospects in the country – would help his rebuilding plans.

Liverpool are also continuing efforts to sign Henderson's England Under-21 colleague Connor Wickham from Ipswich Town. The 18-year-old is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs but Liverpool's offer for the striker is believed to be around £2m short of Ipswich's £10m valuation.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Looks like Eggnog going in the opposite direction.

Sky Sports understands that Liverpool have agreed terms with Sunderland for England international midfielder Jordan Henderson.

The Reds have been locked in talks with their Premier League counterparts for several days after making their initial approach last week.

The two clubs have been haggling over the valuation of the 20-year-old, who will undergo a medical with the Merseyside giants on Wednesday.

It is understood that the deal that has been agreed is worth £20million and it will include David N'Gog moving in the opposite direction, subject to him agreeing terms on Wearside.

The French striker will hold talks with the North East club, while Henderson brokers his move to Anfield.

Henderson is due to link up with England Under-21 squad ahead of the European Championships which begins this weekend, and both clubs are eager for the move to be completed before then.

[Capt Pat]

After initial doubts about signing a player I know nothing about. It is now a case of how much are we paying them to take Ngog. This is a good outcome for Liverpool.

[Geoff Tipps]

After initial doubts about signing a player I know nothing about. It is now a case of how much are we paying them to take Ngog. This is a good outcome for Liverpool.

Apparently the deal is £13m + N'gog. How they came to value N'gog at £7m is bizarre. Good deal for Liverpool.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Liverpool set to sign Jordan Henderson from Sunderland in £20 million deal

Liverpool's shock and awe approach to the transfer market will lead the club lodge bids for both Blackpool captain Charlie Adam and Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing after completing a £20 million deal for Sunderland's Jordan Henderson.


By Rory Smith

12:07AM BST 08 Jun 2011


The Anfield side last night agreed terms with their Premier League rivals to make the 20-year-old midfielder Kenny Dalglish's first signing since he was confirmed as Liverpool's permanent manager, subject to a medical to be held today. The deal will see Liverpool pay £13 million and the £7 million-rated striker David N'Gog move to the Stadium of Light in part exchange.

With Henderson's personal terms unlikely to pose a problem and days of informal negotiation with Sunderland at an end, Dalglish and Liverpool's Director of Football Damien Comolli can now turn their focus on to other targets.

Liverpool are determined to conduct the majority of their transfer dealings before their squad reconvene at the club's Melwood base for the start of pre-season training in early July and the club will waste no time in adding to the signing of Henderson, with Adam and Downing both viewed as priorities.

To secure Adam, the Anfield club are likely to be told to improve on the ultimately unsuccessful £7 million offer they lodged for the Scotland international in January, though Blackpool's subsequent relegation weakens their negotiating position considerably.

Downing, meanwhile, is expected to cost around £10 million after admitting last week that he is "not sure" where his future lies. Dalglish believes the width the former Middlesbrough player, who has refused to extend his contract at Villa Park, could provide as crucial to eliciting the best from Andy Carroll.

The Liverpool manager, along with Comolli and the club's owners, Fenway Sports Group, are keen to infuse the club's squad with young, native talent, leading to moves for Henderson, Phil Jones of Blackburn and Ipswich striker Connor Wickham, but exceptions will be made for both Adam, 27, and Downing, 26, as well as Newcastle's Spanish left back, Jose Enrique, and Roma's Brazilian goalkeeper Doni.

The Anfield side have also been linked with a move for the Barcelona winger Jeffren Suarez, who has just a year left on his contract at Camp Nou.

The Spanish under-21 international yesterday told the radio station Cadena SER that it was an "honour" to be tracked by Liverpool, who are believed to have indicated their interest to the player's representatives. Though the 23-year- would prefer to stay at the European champions, he is available for around £8 million.

More likely, though, is a £9 million bid for Enrique in the coming weeks, with Newcastle's belief that the player – who has thus far refused to discuss a new contract – will leave evidenced by their decision to offer Swansea £1 million for their left back, Neil Taylor, yesterday.

The St James's Park club will be told that they must increase that offer substantially to have any hope of securing a replacement for Enrique, but sources have confirmed he is viewed as a replacement for the former Villarreal player.

Doni, meanwhile, will provide backup to Pepe Reina after Liverpool agreed a £1 million deal with Roma. "Doni would be very happy to join Liverpool and play in the Premier League," his agent said yesterday.

[Capt Pat]

What would Liverpools starting 11 be if they get Downing, Henderson and Adam.

[brokencrossbar1]

Commolli didn't even wear a mask when conducting that deal. Eggnog for £7m. Not a bad profit on a bit part player.

[gawa316]

Things are starting to heat up, with all the rumours of Henderson, Wickham and Jones.

Be great to get all the young english lads in asap and then in July acouple of big european signings in july.Would be optimistic enough about next season*.


* Important info for all manc fans, this does not mean I think Liverpool are going to win the league

[laoislad]

After initial doubts about signing a player I know nothing about. It is now a case of how much are we paying them to take Ngog. This is a good outcome for Liverpool.

+1
I see they are also interested in Malouda.