One of the main tragedies of last summer's transfer window--aside from failing miserably at the end of it--was the club's intent to sell Jordan Henderson. Talk of a cash plus player bid for Fulham's Clint Dempsey thankfully failed, and as Dempsey went to Spurs, Henderson stayed at Liverpool and gradually produced a very good season in central midfield, asserting himself not only as a player worth having around, but one who could potentially be an important role-player for seasons to come. Those ignorant to that evidence will have welcomed talk yesterday that the club were again looking to sell him, but the rest of us breathe a sigh of relief today as The Liverpool Echo report that there's nothing in exit talks for the U21 captain.
Along with news of a medical for Simon Mignolet, Neil Jones addressed the growing rumors that Henderson would be used to fund Liverpool's transfer activity:
Suggestions that midfielder Jordan Henderson could be sold in order to raise funds are also understood to be wide of the mark. Liverpool's transfer budget could, however, receive a boost this week, if one-time target Tom Ince joins Cardiff City. The Blackpool winger is understood to be on the verge of an £8m switch to the Premier League new boys. And that would mean Liverpool, who sold Ince to Blackpool for £250,000 back in 2011, would now be entitled to around £2.8m due to a 35% sell-on clause agreed in that deal.
Double good news, then--Henderson, much to the chagrin of those who continue to pretend he's not any good, will be sticking around, and Liverpool is in for a tidy sum in compensation when Thomas Ince heads to Cardiff. That's a win on all sides, as Ince and his dad get a fee they think he's worth, Liverpool make some money and don't have to bring him (or his dad) aboard, and Jordan Henderson rightfully has his place in the squad secured ahead of next season.