Liverpool near deal for Jones and Henderson

Liverpool are closing in on a £30million swoop for two of England’s hottest prospects — Blackburn defender Phil Jones and Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson.

The Anfield giants increased their initial offer of £13m for Henderson, 20, to £15m yesterday and are hopeful Sunderland will compromise on their asking price of £18m.

Liverpool are also ready to make a formal offer to Blackburn for £15m-rated Jones, though they face a battle for him with Arsenal and Tottenham.

The moves are part of Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's strategy of buying top English talent, having signed striker Andy Carroll in January for £35m from Newcastle.

The club have also asked about the availability of midfielder Lee Cattermole at the Stadium of Light.

Henderson and Jones are in Spain with the England U21 party preparing for this month's European Championship in Denmark.

Stuart Pearce's squad fly home tonight before travelling to Southampton for Sunday's friendly against Norway, but Henderson is on stand-by to travel to Merseyside and complete the deal as soon as the two clubs agree a fee.

Liverpool's move for Jones will alert Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has made it known he wants to build his back four around the 19-year-old.

Wenger was prepared to wait a year while signing Jones's Blackburn team-mate Chris Samba now.

That deal is advanced but Liverpool's move may force Wenger to rethink his plans for Jones, who has impressed in the centre of defence and midfield since making his Premier League debut against Chelsea in March last year.

He signed a five-year deal that May and extended it by 12 months in February.

Blackburn would prefer to keep their prize asset and sell Samba but accept that they will not be able to stand in Jones's way if the right offer comes in.

Dalglish has already signalled a change of direction at Anfield since succeeding Roy Hodgson by handing first-team opportunities to 17-year-old Jack Robinson, 18-year-old John Flanagan and 21-year-old Martin Kelly, and giving a new deal to Jay Spearing, 22.

Source: Daily Mail

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.