Downing and Adam next after Henderson

Liverpool's shock and awe approach to the transfer market will lead the club lodge bids for both Blackpool captain Charlie Adam and Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing after completing a £20 million deal for Sunderland’s Jordan Henderson.

The Anfield side last night agreed terms with their Premier League rivals to make the 20-year-old midfielder Kenny Dalglish's first signing since he was confirmed as Liverpool's permanent manager, subject to a medical to be held today.

The deal will see Liverpool pay £13 million and the £7 million-rated striker David Ngog move to the Stadium of Light in part exchange.

With Henderson's personal terms unlikely to pose a problem and days of informal negotiation with Sunderland at an end, Dalglish and Liverpool's Director of Football Damien Comolli can now turn their focus on to other targets.

Liverpool are determined to conduct the majority of their transfer dealings before their squad reconvene at the club's Melwood base for the start of pre-season training in early July and the club will waste no time in adding to the signing of Henderson, with Adam and Downing both viewed as priorities.

To secure Adam, the Anfield club are likely to be told to improve on the ultimately unsuccessful £7 million offer they lodged for the Scotland international in January, though Blackpool's subsequent relegation weakens their negotiating position considerably.

Downing, meanwhile, is expected to cost around £10 million after admitting last week that he is "not sure" where his future lies.

Dalglish believes the width the former Middlesbrough player, who has refused to extend his contract at Villa Park, could provide as crucial to eliciting the best from Andy Carroll.

The Liverpool manager, along with Comolli and the club's owners, Fenway Sports Group, are keen to infuse the club's squad with young, native talent, leading to moves for Henderson, Phil Jones of Blackburn and Ipswich striker Connor Wickham, but exceptions will be made for both Adam, 27, and Downing, 26, as well as Newcastle's Spanish left back, Jose Enrique, and Roma's Brazilian goalkeeper Doni.

The Anfield side have also been linked with a move for the Barcelona winger Jeffren Suarez, who has just a year left on his contract at Camp Nou.

The Spanish under-21 international yesterday told the radio station Cadena SER that it was an "honour" to be tracked by Liverpool, who are believed to have indicated their interest to the player's representatives. Though the 23-year- would prefer to stay at the European champions, he is available for around £8 million.

More likely, though, is a £9 million bid for Enrique in the coming weeks, with Newcastle's belief that the player - who has thus far refused to discuss a new contract - will leave evidenced by their decision to offer Swansea £1 million for their left back, Neil Taylor, yesterday.

The St James's Park club will be told that they must increase that offer substantially to have any hope of securing a replacement for Enrique, but sources have confirmed he is viewed as a replacement for the former Villarreal player.

Doni, meanwhile, will provide backup to Pepe Reina after Liverpool agreed a £1 million deal with Roma. "Doni would be very happy to join Liverpool and play in the Premier League," his agent said yesterday.

Source: The Telegraph