Jordan Henderson to Sunderland: Ex-Liverpool star's January transfer stance revealed by interesting report

Former Liverpool and England man Jordan Henderson is reportedly “open” to an emotional return to Sunderland.

Wearside-born Henderson joined Liverpool from Sunderland in a deal worth £20million in June 2011 after rising through the ranks at the Academy of Light. Henderson then captained the Reds to the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup during his stay on Merseyside.

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After his time at Liverpool had come to an end, Henderson joined Al Ettifaq for a fee in the region of £13million, with the Saudi club reportedly paying him a wage of around £350,000 per week. The move didn’t last long, however, with the former England man then moving to Ajax in Holland last January.

Football Insider have now claimed that Henderson is “open” to returning to Sunderland after also claiming that the Black Cats were working on a deal ahead of the January transfer window. Their article reads: “Sources say the midfielder would welcome a return to his boyhood club despite the drop in level it would represent, as he believes he could play a crucial role in their promotion push.”

The website adds: “Sources previously told Football Insider that Ajax would not stand in his way should the midfielder want to depart the club mid-way through the season. It is thought Sunderland are ready to offer a short-term deal for the midfielder, with the option to extend at the end of the season, with Henderson under contract in Amsterdam until 2026.”

However, conflicting reports last week from various outlets claimed that Sunderland will find it difficult to propose a realistic deal for Henderson due to his wages at Ajax. The Black Cats will also have to weigh whether Henderson's arrival would help or hinder the development of Dan Neil, Chris Rigg, Jobe Bellingham and Milan Aleksic. The Black Cats also have Abdul Samed to come back into the fold following his summer transfer arrival.