KENNY DALGLISH believes Liverpool have landed a class act on and off the pitch with the signing of young Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson.
Liverpool completed a £16m deal for Henderson last night which has delighted both Reds boss Dalglish and the club’s director of football, Damien Comolli.
Dalglish today said he believed Henderson is perfectly suited to the challenge of the Anfield stage – as the Reds boost their squad with addition of one of the most promising young English footballers around.
TheŠLiverpool boss told the ECHO: “It is fantastic for the football club to be able to attract hugely talented young footballers that have huge potential.
“Jordan is very mature for his age.
“He is respectful and his principles and everything else on and off the pitch are exemplary.
“Not only is he a talented footballer, he’s a really good person as well. He loves his football and he is very appreciative of what Sunderland have done for him.”
Henderson is thought to be the first of a number of names Liverpool hope to bring in this summer to rapidly pressŠahead with the Anfield resurgence following the turbulent start to last season. Added the Reds boss: “You know of young players before of course but we have been watching him since he came into the Sunderland first team and have been tracking him.
“We just need to go out and bring people to the football club that will raise the profile and standard of the performances that we have had since January – and I think Jordan falls into that category. People might turn around and say, ‘Well you have people in there who have done really well.
“Of course they have done well – and hopefully next year people will be saying the same thing about Jordan.”
Meanwhile, reports suggest Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy could be the next name on Dalglish’s shopping list, with the Reds said to beŠpreparing a £5m bid.
Clichy has just one year left to run on his contract at the Emirates.
Reds director of football Comolli is known to be a fan, having scouted him for the Gunners as a youngster, and Liverpool are known to be in the market for a left-back, with Newcastle’s Jose Enrique persistently linked of late.
