Jordan Henderson transfer terms emerge at Sunderland amid Ajax exit links
Jordan Henderson would need to take a “significant pay cut” to complete a move to Sunderland, according to football finance expert Dan Plumley.
The Black Cats have been linked with an emotional deal for the England international in the January transfer window as he edges closer to the Ajax exit door [The Sun, 5 October].
But Plumley admits any deal for the former Liverpool man would be difficult for Regis Le Bris’ side to afford unless an agreement could be reached which would see Sunderland only cover a portion of the midfielder’s wages.
“I think it would put a strain on most Championship clubs, to be honest,” Plumley exclusively told Mackem News.
“Even those clubs with parachute payments, I think it would put a strain on so for any deal to be done, I think it would need to look at Sunderland covering part of his wages and not all of it.
“Unless he’s willing to take a significant pay cut. If you look at the numbers, they spent £25.3million on wages in 2023, and their wages-to-turnover ratio was around 68 per cent.
“That’s manageable, but if you start to let that creep up, it does put a strain on finances.
“Of course, what’s also going to be interesting there as this plays out is the fact they’ve had a flying start to the season that perhaps many people weren’t expecting.
“If there is a promotion push or a top six push and they stay in and around that pack come January, he would add a lot of talent to that team from an experience point of view.
“So I think league position will also be a factor in this. But it will be big wages whatever happens and I think it would be a bit of a strain to cover all of that, whatever the number is.
“I think they’d have to look to negotiate that position if it’s a loan deal to be done.”
Will Jordan Henderson exit Ajax amid Sunderland transfer rumours?
So much of Sunderland’s January transfer activity will be based on where they sit in the Championship table when the New Year rolls around at the Stadium of Light.
If Le Bris’s side in with a genuine shot at promotion to the Premier League, there may well be a bit more money to spend and a deal for Henderson could well become much more appealing.
This could well be one to keep a close eye on in the coming weeks and months.
In other Sunderland news, the reason behind Timothee Pembele’s departure has been revealed in the North East
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