Sunderland fans are all in agreement about potential return of Jordan Henderson, signing is a ‘no-brainer’

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Sunderland fans are desperate for the club to re-sign former academy graduate Jordan Henderson ahead of return to the Premier League next season.

In the wake of Sunderland’s Championship play-off final victory, which has propelled the club back to the top flight, transfer business has already begun on Wearside.

Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee was Sunderland’s first signing after winning promotion, Jobe Bellingham looks poised for a move to the Bundesliga after jetting to Germany for transfer talks, and £20m defender Wilfried Singo has been linked with signing.

Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has set the Premier League budget for next season, and as such, the summer transfer window is poised to be a turbulent one for the Black Cats to equip Regis Le Bris with enough reinforcements to stave off instant relegation.

Jordan Henderson’s name has been persistently linked with a Sunderland move, and a return to his boyhood club is top of many Black Cats fans’ shopping lists this summer.

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Sunderland fans want Jordan Henderson to re-sign ahead of Premier League return

Premier League football is a different beast to life in the second tier, given the discrepancy in financial firepower and footballing quality.

The source of Sunderland’s success this season was proven in the play-off final, with the man-of-the-match Anthony Patterson, captain Dan Neil, and game-winner Tommy Watson all being academy graduates turned first-team stars.

Henderson is also an Academy of Light graduate, who featured 78 times for his boyhood club before a £20 million move to Liverpool in 2011, where he spent 12 glory-filled years before spending time at Al-Ettifaq and now Ajax.

TBR Football has revealed that a return to Sunderland is currently looking most likely should Henderson leave Ajax in the coming months, and with a top Dutch reporter talking up the rumours, the Black Cats faithful are desperate to see the midfielder return.

In response to a social media post from Sunderland journalist Michael Graham on whether Henderson is the right choice for the Black Cats’ youth-first philosophy, one fan said: “I can’t think of one negative for us to sign him… Still has the quality to be great for us along with his experience and drive for the younger players.”

Another said: “We can still bring those young players in, but they need the experience around them also. Half the Premier League would still take him.”

One Sunderland fan added: “Jordan’s standing in the game alone would be so influential in this group. If the opportunity is there, take it.”

“It’s a no-brainer to sign him, won everything, still playing at a high level and in the England squad. A proper leader to help the young lads transition into the premier, get him in”, argued one fan.

One Sunderland fan said: “Jordan is exactly what the club needs next season.”, as another agreed: “He’d be perfect. Experience, aura and respect in dressing room.”

Opinions of die-hard supporters are often a good compass to measure whether a signing would be sensible, or silly, for a club to make.

The consensus is that Henderson’s return would be an astute bit of business from the Black Cats hierarchy. His career statistics, experience, and honours perfectly prove why.

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Jordan Henderson would be the perfect signing for Sunderland

Sunderland have earned rightful acclaim for their football model under the sporting directorship of Kristjaan Speakman, which is hinged on giving elite young prospects the platform to grow and thrive by learning their trade on the job, to sell on for substantial profits down the line.

Le Bris’ midfield trio of Neil, Rigg, and Bellingham cost the club a combined total of £3 million, with both Neil and Rigg being technically free as academy products.

Academy graduate Neil has been the heir to Henderson’s midfield throne for the duo’s boyhood club.

The experience, knowledge, and expertise that Henderson, who was in the stands at Wembley to see the play-off final win, has soaked up across his decades at the top level would be invaluable to the young midfield trio.

On the pitch, Henderson would offer rest and rotation with Neil and has still been performing at European level with Ajax despite being 34-years-old, which highlights his level of dedication.

However, off the pitch, the serial winner’s influence would be the biggest upside to his return to Wearside after a 14-year absence.

Henderson’s innate leadership and battle scars from years at the elite level would provide the perfect combination to the youthful exuberance of this Black Cats side, and could be the difference-maker to help Le Bris’ side stave off an instant relegation.

His return is as sentimental as it is sensible, how could any Sunderland fan turn that down?