Liverpool in talks with Henderson

Henderson made his England debut against France in November 2010

Liverpool are continuing to hold negotiations with Sunderland in an attempt to sign Jordan Henderson for a fee in the region of £20m.

The Anfield club hope a deal can be done before he joins England’s Under-21 squad on Wednesday for the European Championship in Denmark.

Sunderland rejected Liverpool’s previous offer, which is believed to be worth about £16m.

But discussions are ongoing over the future of the 20-year-old midfielder.

The Black Cats are holding out for the full asking price of £20m for their player, who won his first England cap in the friendly defeat against France at Wembley in November.

But Liverpool are still hopeful of striking a compromise deal quickly that will allow them to make Henderson their first major signing since Kenny Dalglish was confirmed as manager.

Manchester United had been regarded as the long-time favourites to sign Henderson after he made an outstanding start to last season, but their interest cooled and manager Sir Alex Ferguson has moved on to other midfield targets.

Henderson’s potential acquisition fits in with Liverpool’s policy under Dalglish, director of football Damien Comolli and owners Fenway Sports Group to pursue young, and preferably English, talent, with Ipswich’s teenage striker Connor Wickham and Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones also Anfield targets.

Sunderland-born midfielder Jordan, who had a loan spell at Coventry City early in his career and signed a five-year contract at The Stadium of Light in April 2010, came to prominence as Steve Bruce’s Black Cats made a fine start to the season and was rewarded with an England call-up by coach Fabio Capello.

And even though his form dipped as Sunderland struggled in the second half of the campaign, Henderson is still regarded as one of England’s brightest young prospects.

If, as expected, Liverpool sign Henderson it will be their second expensive raid on the north-east’s pool of young England stars after they signed Andy Carroll from Newcastle United in a £35m deal in January.