Sunderland Transfers: 5 Recent Players Black Cats Should Not Have Sold

3. Jordan Henderson

This was close between both Jordan and another youngster named Ryan Noble for this, but given the profile and how this player has developed, the nod has to be given to the former. Another success story from the Academy, Jordan first showed glimpses of promise in the League Cup against Blackburn in 2008. Following a loan spell at Coventry, where game developed and caught the eye of many plaudits watching until he suffered a fracture to his fifth metatarsal bone in his foot - this resulted in a premature return to Wearside. Quick, attacking and an eye for a pass, Henderson was a breath of fresh air when Steve Bruce introduced him to the first team when he was in charge, showing his ability to have a go at defenders, whip dangerous crosses in and scoring the odd goal or two. He was voted Young Player of The Year twice in a row at his time there. He's represented England more since moving to Liverpool in 2011 for a fee of £16 million, where he has collected six caps in the senior squad and captained the Under-21 team on numerous occasions. His departure left quite a void to fill in the attacking side of midfield, one where our next player could have thrived...if he didn't have a daft Italian flogging him.