Henderson headed for Liverpool: Club

Liverpool have won the race to sign promising Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson after the clubs agreed a transfer deal reportedly worth around £20 million, it was confirmed on Wednesday.

"A fee has been agreed with Liverpool for Jordan Henderson and he travels to Anfield today with the club's blessing," Sunderland confirmed in a statement on the club's website.

Henderson, 20, will head to Anfield as part of a deal which will see French striker David Ngog join the Black Cats as a makeweight according to reports.

The deal comes after days of speculation linking Henderson to a Liverpool move, with Reds manager Kenny Dalglish determined to clinch the transfer before the midfielder travels to Denmark for the Under-21 European Championships.

Henderson's signing will be the third major transfer since Dalglish took over as caretaker in January, following the acquisitions of Andy Carroll and Uruguayan international Luis Suarez.

Henderson has been a key figure for Sunderland in the past two seasons, and made his senior England debut against France in November last year.

He is the latest part of a transfer strategy that will see Liverpool target young talent rather than established stars, reports said.

The club are also chasing Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam, 25, Blackburn centre-half Phil Jones, 19, and Ipswich's teenage striker Connor Wickham, 18.

Liverpool have also been linked to Aston Villa's England international Ashley Young although Manchester United are currently favourites to secure the attacking midfielder's signature.