Liverpool Transfer News: Rumours on Brendan Rodgers' Ins and Outs This Summer

Jordan Henderson is ready to put pen to paper on a new Liverpool deal amid rumours the midfielder could leave Anfield, while the Reds are looking to sign Derby County starlet Will Hughes this summer.

Rumours had begun to surface that contract negotiations had stumbled for Henderson, but he was quoted by Sky Sports this week as saying he intends to remain at Liverpool "for many years":

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I love playing football for Liverpool and I want to be there for many years. In terms of my contract, I think everybody else will make a big deal of it but for me, it's just letting my agent and the club deal with it and whenever it gets sorted, it gets sorted. All I want to do is my best for club and country.

At Liverpool, we've got fantastic players, real quality players and a lot of potential. We're a young team and I think there is great potential and a big part of us is wanting to be winners and winning trophies. I really feel we can do that.

It is the same with England. I really feel we are going in the right direction and hopefully in the next Euros, we can do something special.

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With Steven Gerrard moving to LA Galaxy later this year, expectations are being placed upon Henderson to fill the boots of his mentor for both club and country in the months and years to come.

Since arriving from Sunderland in 2011, the 24-year-old has grown to become a key member of Brendan Rodgers' squad and has seen a similar boost in prominence under England boss Roy Hodgson.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

Henderson's current contract is set to expire next summer and a sense of urgency has taken over at Anfield to ensure the player's long-term future is secure.

According to The Sun, his new deal will see Henderson's wages raised to £100,000 a week:

Rodgers has looked to Henderson for inspiration at times this season, with his playmaking talisman having netted five Premier League goals and made 46 chances this season, per Squawka.

Only Raheem Sterling has cut out more opportunities for the Reds in league competition this season. OptaJoe illustrates what a metronomic presence Henderson can be during England's Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania:

With a strong backbone of emerging English talent at the club, Liverpool will be glad to wrap up Henderson's extension and look toward the future with his services tied down.

Hughes Drawing Reds' Attention

Having long been linked with a move for the Championship starlet, it seems Liverpool are now ready to make a move for Derby's Will Hughes, according to the latest reports.

The Daily Star on Sunday (h/t Chris Beesley of the Liverpool Echo) writes that Rodgers' side are pursuing a £15 million move for the midfield maestro, saying:

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The 19-year-old midfielder could be heading to Anfield according to Daily Star Sunday now that the Rams bid to go up is faltering.

Any move would hand the youngster with the daunting task of filling Steven Gerrard’s boots but Brendan Rodgers has been a long-time admirer and having been set to make a move last summer, having been attracted by Hughes’ sizzling form during the 2013/14 campaign.

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The aforementioned move to secure Henderson's long-term services means Hughes' burden may not be so great in terms of taking Steven Gerrard's place in the squad.

However, Hughes is being lined up for massive plaudits in the future, and the Mirror's Alex Richards is one of those to voice his admiration for the player in the past:

Hughes signed a new contract with Derby County at the beginning of the season, seemingly ruling the youngster out of any immediate move away from the second-tier side.

Rodgers looks eager to lure the player to Anfield, however, and it seems only a matter of time before Hughes makes the jump to the top flight—the only question is whether or not it will be with Derby.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

The Rams are still in the hunt for automatic promotion from the Championship, but a place in the playoffs looks more likely, the team currently sitting in fifth and six points off the summit.

Failure to clinch promotion may be the turning point for Hughes in terms of convincing him of a move to the Premier League, with Liverpool ready to step in should his signature become available.