Liverpool complete Henderson signing

Liverpool have completed the signing of midfielder Jordan Henderson from Sunderland.

Henderson has put pen to paper on what the Merseyside club have described as a "long-term deal", having agreed personal terms and visited the Reds' Melwood training complex yesterday before undergoing a medical.

The highly-rated 20-year-old has moved for an undisclosed fee, with reports suggesting it could be up to £20million.

A statement on Liverpool's official website read: "Liverpool Football Club have completed the signing of Jordan Henderson after the 20-year-old passed a medical and agreed personal terms.

"Henderson travelled to Merseyside on Wednesday after a fee was agreed with Sunderland. He then underwent a medical examination in Liverpool before signing a long-term deal.

"The midfielder has now joined the England Under-21 squad in Denmark as they prepare for the European Championships.

"Henderson's first game after completing his transfer is likely to be against Spain Under-21s on Sunday."

It had been thought Reds striker David Ngog might travel in the opposite direction as part of the transfer but for now the Frenchman remains at Anfield.

Henderson is Liverpool's first signing of the summer and - following the big-money captures of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in January - the third high-profile new recruit since Fenway Sports Group's takeover of the club and Kenny Dalglish's return as manager last season.

Although currently with Stuart Pearce's England Under-21s in Denmark, Henderson won his first senior international cap against France last November and his value has soared over the past year, despite a recent dip in form.

The Sunderland-born player is a product of the Wearsiders' youth academy and he made his Black Cats debut in a 5-0 defeat to Chelsea in November 2008.

In total he has made 79 appearances for the club, scoring five goals, and he also spent a spell on loan at Coventry in the 2008-09 season.

Sunderland had been reluctant to part company with one of their prized assets, but chairman Niall Quinn yesterday said Henderson leaves with their blessing.

He is the second key player to depart the Stadium of Light in 2011 after Darren Bent's January move to Aston Villa, but manager Steve Bruce should now have funds to strengthen.

Dalglish, meanwhile, is likely to continue doing business in the transfer window as he attempts to rejuvenate his squad this summer.

Liverpool are believed to retain interest in Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam, while Ipswich youngster Connor Wickham is thought to be another target.

Crouch is staying, says Redknapp

Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, says he is not looking to sell Peter Crouch this summer despite reported interested from Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, who tried to sign the striker two years ago.

Asked if Crouch would leave Tottenham in the close season, Redknapp said: "I doubt it. Crouchy is a good player. I like him. He is a great lad and I love him as a fella. He is not one I'm looking to shift. We are looking to bring a striker in but he is not one of those that we are looking to sell if we can help it."

United open talks with £8m Nasri

In a huge blow to Arsène Wenger, Arsenal's French midfielder moves step closer to sealing Old Trafford transfer

Manchester United yesterday began talks with Samir Nasri's representatives, as their early summer activity continued to frustrate Arsenal and leave other clubs trailing in their wake.

The talks in Manchester were only exploratory, conducted among intermediaries from both sides, and did not include the Frenchman's agent Jean-Pierre Bernes. But United's willingness to open negotiations with a midfielder who appears to have concluded that he has no future at Arsenal suggests they may be ready to capitalise on an opportunity in the transfer market. The 23-year-old, who was superb in the first half of last season, will fall out of contract next summer and will therefore come cheap – possibly as little as £8m.

United hold a fair number of the cards if their interest firms up. Chelsea have indicated that they are not interested in signing the player, who joined Arsenal in 2008, but it is understood that he does want to stay in England. With United's £17m deal to sign Ashley Young set to be completed by the weekend, Nasri appears to be just one of a number of options. The prospect of Wesley Sneijder moving to Old Trafford from Internazionale remains a genuine one.

Neither can a move for Tottenham's Luka Modric be ruled out, even though Chelsea may offer competition for him. United are keeping their options open, with the past 48 hours underlining Sir Alex Ferguson's resolve to do far more than merely tinker with his squad as he sets about getting closer to the standard Barcelona attained in last month's Champions League final. There has, as yet, been no official approach from United to Arsenal about Nasri. The losers in the Nasri saga are again Arsenal, who had retained some hope that he would be willing to give them first refusal on his continued services and consider any new deal they put before him when he returned from international duty. Nasri was left out of the France squad that played Poland last night.

But Nasri, evidently dissatisfied by the events of last season, feels that he will not collect silverware by staying in north London and had sanctioned yesterday's discussions. It would be a bitter blow for Arsène Wenger if United do take the Frenchman, in the week that he lost Blackburn Rovers' Phil Jones to his old adversary, Ferguson – despite several phone calls made in an attempt to wrest him out of United's grasp.

Nasri's departure would also leave Arsenal more in need than ever of holding on to Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard's departure to Barcelona is slightly less likely this summer than last, but just as Nasri's representatives arrived in Manchester yesterday, the usual summer noises from Catalonia began, linking Fabregas with the European champions.

Arsenal would sell him if they receive an offer of at least £45m.

"He's a great player and he's a player from Barcelona because he already knows the language we speak on the pitch," said Gerard Pique on a day when the Spanish papers were full of talk of Fabregas finally returning to Barcelona. "He is a great friend of mine and of course I want him to end up wearing the Barcelona shirt." Fabregas is expected to holiday in Ibiza this summer with Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, as he did last year.

Samir Nasri is out of contract next season, meaning that he could be available for as little as £8m this summer

The prospect of Nasri simply positioning himself for an improved six-figure deal at Arsenal cannot entirely be ruled out. Wenger has said of the player: "One thing's for sure – we're not selling him to Manchester United." But Nasri responded to that on TF1's Telefoot on French television at the weekend. "Let's find out if their interest is true first," he said. "Then we'll talk about it. I don't know if I will sign a new contract. Anyway, the discussions are ongoing. Do I want to go to United? We should see if their interest is real and if it is concrete first."

Arsenal respect Nasri and believe he would not try to negotiate a better deal publicly. The contracts of both Nasri and his compatriot Gaël Clichy expire next summer and the club hope to tie them to five-year deals worth £90,000-a-week.

Though there are suggestions that Arsenal may be ready to move for Bolton's Gary Cahill, a Modric move to Chelsea would be by far the greater statement of intent. Chelsea are also understood to be planning to retain the services of Didier Drogba.

Sneijder is not understood to interest Chelsea, and the Dutch playmaker also appeared eager to cool talk of a move to Manchester yesterday, describing his life with Internazionale in Milan as "beautiful and picturesque". "At Inter, there is a family atmosphere, and there is every reason to aim high," he said. "Milan is beautiful, picturesque. Elegance reigns, and I love it. At the moment I am very happy here, I do not see why I should go."

Aston Villa's move for Michael Bradley on hold

Aston Villa have been given more time to decide about signing United States midfielder Michael Bradley on a permanent basis because of their managerial situation, Press Association Sport understands.

The 23-year-old, part of his country's 2010 World Cup squad, spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa from Borussia Monchengladbach.

Villa had an option to buy the player at the end of the campaign under the terms of the initial agreement, but the German club have allowed them until a replacement for Gerard Houllier is in place to make a final decision.

Bradley made just one start - against Manchester City in the FA Cup - and two substitute appearances during his four-month stint at Villa Park.

The £6million January signing of Jean Makoun and the re-emergence of skipper Stiliyan Petrov and Nigel Reo-Coker, who has since left on a free transfer, meant he had few opportunities.

Villa are continuing their search for a new manager with former England coach Steve McClaren and ex-Tottenham boss Martin Jol among the front-runners.

Club owner Randy Lerner hopes to make an appointment by next week.

Schalke may move for Jens Lehmann

Schalke are eyeing a possible move for Jens Lehmann as they bid to fill the gap left by Manuel Neuer.

Lehmann, 41, came out of retirement to play out the end of last season with former club Arsenal as they went through a goalkeeping crisis, and Schalke, another of his old sides, are considering making an approach for him.

They signed Ralf Faehrmann from Eintracht Frankfurt after Neuer joined Bayern Munich, and general manager Horst Heldt says Lehmann is in their thinking as well.

He told dpa: "We always said that we want to hire a second goalkeeper if Manuel Neuer leaves.

"There are various scenarios and Jens Lehmann is a part of it."

The 22-year-old Faehrmann added: "I can learn a lot every day from Jens Lehmann."

Liverpool move for Doni, claims agent

Liverpool are in talks with Roma to sign Brazilian goalkeeper Alexander Doni, according to the players agent.

Doni, who is under contract with the Serie A club for a further season, has been strongly linked with a move away from the Eternal City this summer.

"I spoke to the club (Roma) yesterday and they confirmed they are holding talks with Liverpool to reach an agreement regarding the transfer of Doni," Doni4s agent Ovidio Colucci told Press Association Sport.

"Once an agreement is reached betwen the two clubs, we will begin negotiating personal terms with Liverpool.

"Doni would be very happy to join Liverpool and play in the Premier League."

The 31-year-old joined Roma in 2005 from Brazilian side Juventude.

The South American has been an understudy to Julio Sergio in recent seasons, and made 16 league appearances for Roma this term.

Hamburg sign Goekhan Toere from Chelsea

Hamburger SV has signed Turkey Under-21 forward Goekhan Toere from Chelsea.

The 19-year-old is the third player from Chelsea to follow sporting director Frank Arnesen to Hamburg. Arnesen decided last year not to renew his contract with the English club.

"I'm looking forward to Hamburg. It's a club with great tradition, located in a fantastic city," Toere told the club's website after signing late on Monday. "I'll give my best for this team."

Hamburg said that Toere — who was born and grew up in Cologne, Germany — signed a three year deal after undergoing a medical. No fee was disclosed.

Toere played for Bayer Leverkusen's youth teams before moving to Chelsea in January 2009.

"Goekhan is a young and extremely talented player," Arnesen said. "He's left-footed and happy to attack from the wing. He is also a physically strong player with good vision. We have to, and will, give him the necessary time he needs to continue his progression."

The Bundesliga club already announced the signings of Italy Under-19 midfielder Jacopo Sala and England youth team international Michael Mancienne from Chelsea.