Saturday, September 06, 2008

Pennant To Pen New Reds Deal


Jermaine Pennant is set to extend his contract with Liverpool, although questions remain over his future at the club.

According to The Times, the Reds will take up their option to add a fourth year to Pennant's current deal, which will expire at the end of the season.

However, there are still doubts over the 25-year-old's long-term prospects at Anfield, especially as he is yet to feature at all for the club this season.

Injuries caused the former Watford winger to fall out of favour with Rafael Benitez last season, while the impact of Fernando Torres brought about a new formation that held no place for genuine widemen.

Blackburn Rovers were eager to tie up a deal during the summer, as manager Paul Ince pegged Pennant as an ideal replacement for his fellow Arsenal product, David Bentley.

Stoke City were also interested in the ex-Notts County man, and it is understood that Benitez attempted to push through a £4million sale on deadline day.

But Pennant turned down a move to Britannia Stadium and is desperate to work his way back into the Reds' starting XI - far from unreasonable, given their dearth of quality options on the right flank.

However, it is likely the Nottingham native will be in the shop window once more come January, and that his contract extension is designed to raise his market value.

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