‘Sunderland set to seal Henderson return’ as midfielder says goodbye to Ajax teammates
Sunderland could be about a seal a sensational return for Jordan Henderson.
The former Mackems academy graduate has enjoyed an impressive career since he departed the Wearside outfit back in 2011, but now he could be nearing an emotional return to his boyhood club.
Henderson has been heavily linked with a return to Sunderland since Regis Le Bris’ men secured promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.
The newly-promoted side are not the only club to have taken an interest in the England midfielder, and the race for his signature seems destined to heat up following the latest development from Ajax.
Henderson says goodbye ahead of Ajax exit
Links for Henderson to return to the Stadium of Light have refused to go away in recent weeks, and now the Black Cats have surely been handed a major boost in their bid to re-sign their former starlet.
Ajax are prepared to allow the 35-year-old to leave for free this summer in a bid to clear their wage bill, despite the fact that he still has a year remaining on his contract.
That has alerted the likes of Nottingham Forest and Marseille, while Sunderland also hold an interest.
The Black Cats could now be about to seal the 84-cap international’s return to the North East, as he has reportedly said goodbye to his teammates at Ajax’s pre-season training camp, according to De Telegraaf (9 July).
With Henderson’s exit from the Amsterdam outfit now all but confirmed, it will surely only be a matter of time before the veteran’s next move is announced.
Sunderland had outlined themselves as a potential option, and now it looks as though they may actually be presented with the opportunity to make the return a reality.
Henderson would be a great leader for Sunderland
Dan Neil has continued to do a fantastic job as Sunderland’s captain over the last few months, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt for the Black Cats to add more leadership to their group ahead of their top-flight return.
| Seasons | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| 15 | 431 | 33 | 54 |
Le Bris has an extremely young squad at his disposal, and they may find it difficult to deal with the pressures of the Premier League, particularly if they endure a slow start to the campaign.
A player of Henderson’s experience could play a crucial role as a mentor within the squad, as well as ensuring that spirits are kept high and standards are maintained as the season progresses.
The midfielder may have received criticism from some quarters over the course of his career, but he is still a reliable option on his day, and he could play a crucial role behind the scenes, even if he doesn’t play too many games.
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