Why Jordan Henderson Is The Reds' Most Important Signing

Optimism is abound at Anfield following a busy, yet successful transfer window period, in which numerous players of quality arrived.

Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Jose Enrique and Craig Bellamy are all established names with proven track records at their respective clubs prior to joining Liverpool. Adam flourished at Blackpool, while Downing took great strides at Aston Villa after bursting onto the international scene with his inclusion in England's 2006 World Cup squad.

Enrique shores up the left-back spot, while Bellamy returns to Anfield after an unsuccessful and unhappy spell at Manchester City.

There is, however, one signing that trumps all the others in importance, both for the near future and beyond, and that is the signing of Jordan Henderson.

Henderson was brought to the club in early June for around €22m from Sunderland, and now represents the future of the club's midfield, for better or worse.

Henderson has so far played in all three of Liverpool's competitive matches in the Premier League, scoring his debut goal against Bolton in the Reds' 3-1 victory. His performances have been up and down, but it is very clear that he possesses the talent to be highly successful on both the club and national level.

Still just 20 years of age, he has time to develop into Liverpool's central midfield replacement for Steven Gerrard, once the captain succumbs to age and injury. The fact that Gerrard is currently injured, and has been for a while, has accelerated Henderson's progression towards being in the middle of the field for Liverpool.

Henderson's signing is of extreme importance because he could be the heir to Steven Gerrard's throne, or he could prove to be just another expensive flop in Merseyside.

More so than Adam or Downing, who are nearer or past their peaks already, and Enrique or Bellamy, who are likely to be temporary fixes in their positions, Henderson has all the tools to ignite the Reds' next revolution in Europe and in England.

The "revolving door" nature of football is in constant motion, the latest example for Liverpool being the transfer of Raul Meireles to Chelsea immediately following his standout season with the club. There is a distinct possibility that any member of Liverpool's midfield could be subject to sale, with the exceptions of Gerrard and Henderson.

Yet, when Gerrard finally must concede his reign over Anfield to a new deputy, it will be Henderson who will take the job—what he does with it may very well decide the fate of the club for years to come.