• Eastlands chiefs ready to sanction move for 20-year-old
• Manchester United also targeting move for midfielder
Both Manchester City and Manchester United are interested in
signing Sunderland's Jordan Henderson. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action
Images
Manchester City are hoping that
their unrivalled transfer funds will help see off competition from
Manchester United to prise Jordan Henderson away
from Sunderland.
Henderson, expected to win his first call-up today to the England
squad for Wednesday's friendly against France at Wembley, is also
attracting interest from Arsenal, but Sunderland expect it will be
City who make the opening move for the 20-year-old and there is a
strong feeling at the Stadium of Light that people surrounding the
player are aware of the interest from Eastlands.
Sunderland would be reluctant to lose one of their more talented
young players and their manager, Steve Bruce, would be particularly
loth for a deal to be done in the January transfer window, but City
officials have been laying the groundwork for a future deal as part
of their campaign to sign up the best young British players.
Henderson would not come cheap, at a minimum £20m, but the costs
will be no issue for a club of City's wealth.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been monitoring Henderson closely ever since
the Sunderland-born player came on as a substitute in the 2-2 draw
at Old Trafford last season, three months after turning 19, and
impressed United's manager with his fearlessness and desire to get
on the ball.
Ferguson is hoping the lure of Old Trafford will work in his favour
but the dynamics have changed now City are under the ownership of
the Abu Dhabi United Group and, in a straight contest between the
two clubs, the United manager is acutely aware that his club are
not in a position to compete with City financially.
Henderson, who can play in the centre of midfield or as a
right-winger, was Sunderland's young player of the year last
season, earning a new five-year contract. "Jordan has been terrific
for us this season and last, so it is no surprise that people are
talking about a call-up," Bruce said. "He is a young lad with the
world at his feet; the sky's the limit for him. Jordan has
everything. He can run, tackle, he never gives the ball away, and I
rate him as the brightest young prospect in the British game."
Brian Marwood, City's football administrator, has been entrusted
with trying to arrange a transfer that would also serve to show
that Wayne Rooney had justifiable reasons for expressing concerns
during his recent contract dispute about United's ability to
compete in the transfer market.
Rooney is due to arrive back in Manchester today after his
week-long training camp in Portland, Oregon. "Wayne has been doing
really well," Mike Phelan, United's assistant manager, said. "He
has been training really hard, working morning and afternoon. Our
people out there who are looking after him have been really pleased
with his attitude and approach. We will see where he is at on
Monday but we think he will have improved immensely."
