Jordan Henderson has been linked with a January return to Sunderland, but the Ajax midfielder has broken his silence on the subject for the first time, and such a transfer does not appear to be in the cards. Sunderland have been in excellent form in the Championship this season under Regis Le Bris, who took over in the summer and has transformed the club into promotion contenders.
The previous season was challenging for Sunderland, but most of that has been forgotten as the team sets its sights on a possible Premier League comeback. After recovering a two-goal deficit to defeat Swansea City 3-2 on Saturday afternoon, the Black Cats are fourth in the league standings, two points behind second-place Leeds United.
The January window already appears to be shaping up to be a critical one for Sunderland in their quest for promotion, and they’ve been linked with a mid-season boost in the form of a possible return for Henderson, who began his career on Wearside and has enjoyed storied success at the highest levels of the game. However, it now appears that a revival in January is no longer a possibility, which means Sunderland may have to plan a new alternative transfer if Le Bris is still looking to improve his midfield options.
Ajax’s Jordan Henderson rules out January; Sunderland AFC transfer swap Various reports had earlier stated that Henderson, who had fallen out of favour with Ajax manager Francesco Farioli at the start of the season, was open to a spectacular return to his boyhood club, and that Sunderland were running the rule over the transfer.
Henderson has now seemingly ruled out a return to the Stadium of Light, expressing his desire to stay with Ajax and assist the Dutch giants grow. The 34-year-old also revealed that he had no idea where the talk of a return to Sunderland came from. Henderson is quoted as saying, via the Sunderland Echo, “It’s been my club since I was six or seven years old.” Then I was in the stands. But I just hope to stay here [at Ajax]. I truly enjoy it here.
“I want to help the club grow further. We’re also taking those steps. But I also read it. I have no idea where this all came from, because there has been no interaction.” Regis Le Bris believes that Sunderland AFC may suffer as a result of Jordan Henderson’s transfer disclosure.
While Henderson’s age has always been a contradiction to Sunderland’s long-term youth-centred recruitment philosophy, led by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman, and there have been concerns about a potential decrease in game time for young midfield prospects such as Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham, Henderson’s announcement may be a blow to the club. Of course, all of these things are valid. To be fair, Henderson’s acknowledged experience and know-how, both on and off the game, might have been extremely beneficial to Sunderland as they enter a mentally taxing latter end of the season with high stakes and pressure.
Sunderland would’ve benefited from balance if he’d joined, and sentimentalism aside, it would’ve been unhelpful if he arrived and immediately replaced Rigg or Bellingham. However, the former Liverpool captain understands what it takes to prosper at the highest level and would have been incredibly beneficial to have alongside youthful opponents who are expected to duplicate his own success in the future.
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