Both Manchester City and Manchester United are interested in signing Sunderland's Jordan Henderson. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images
Manchester City are hoping that their unrivalled transfer funds will help see off competition from Manchester United to prise Jordan Henderson away from Sunderland.
Henderson, expected to win his first call-up today to the England squad for Wednesday's friendly against France at Wembley, is also attracting interest from Arsenal, but Sunderland expect it will be City who make the opening move for the 20-year-old and there is a strong feeling at the Stadium of Light that people surrounding the player are aware of the interest from Eastlands.
Sunderland would be reluctant to lose one of their more talented young players and their manager, Steve Bruce, would be particularly loth for a deal to be done in the January transfer window, but City officials have been laying the groundwork for a future deal as part of their campaign to sign up the best young British players. Henderson would not come cheap, at a minimum £20m, but the costs will be no issue for a club of City's wealth.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been monitoring Henderson closely ever since the Sunderland-born player came on as a substitute in the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford last season, three months after turning 19, and impressed United's manager with his fearlessness and desire to get on the ball.
Ferguson is hoping the lure of Old Trafford will work in his favour but the dynamics have changed now City are under the ownership of the Abu Dhabi United Group and, in a straight contest between the two clubs, the United manager is acutely aware that his club are not in a position to compete with City financially.
Henderson, who can play in the centre of midfield or as a right-winger, was Sunderland's young player of the year last season, earning a new five-year contract. "Jordan has been terrific for us this season and last, so it is no surprise that people are talking about a call-up," Bruce said. "He is a young lad with the world at his feet; the sky's the limit for him. Jordan has everything. He can run, tackle, he never gives the ball away, and I rate him as the brightest young prospect in the British game."
Brian Marwood, City's football administrator, has been entrusted with trying to arrange a transfer that would also serve to show that Wayne Rooney had justifiable reasons for expressing concerns during his recent contract dispute about United's ability to compete in the transfer market.
Rooney is due to arrive back in Manchester today after his week-long training camp in Portland, Oregon. "Wayne has been doing really well," Mike Phelan, United's assistant manager, said. "He has been training really hard, working morning and afternoon. Our people out there who are looking after him have been really pleased with his attitude and approach. We will see where he is at on Monday but we think he will have improved immensely."
