Liverpool are set to offer Jermaine Pennant a new one-year extension to his contract – to prevent him leaving on a free transfer in the summer.
The move would safeguard Liverpool against a clause in the winger’s contract – that entitles him to an automatic 12-month extension if he plays 15 games this season – not being activated.
Pennant has only made four appearances during this campaign and hasn’t featured since the home league game with Portsmouth on October 29.
With Liverpool leading the Premier League there is little prospect of the 25-year-old making up the remaining quota of games towards the end of the season and Saturday’s third round win over Preston displayed Rafael Benitez’s intention to field strong sides in the FA Cup.
Although Pennant is clearly out of his manager’s plans, Liverpool are keen to recoup a fee for a player they signed for £6.7m in the summer of 2006, particularly as there is no shortage of interest in him.
Although AC Milan’s recent desire to sign him was on a free, Real Madrid were prepared to pay £3m for him before the deal collapsed over personal terms.
And there are a clutch of Premier League clubs willing to take a chance on the erratic Pennant, including Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur.
However, they are aware that Pennant’s lack of action means he is certain to be a free agent at the end of the season, which has prompted Liverpool to draw up new terms for him.
Benitez, meanwhile, is preparing his team for the trip to Stoke City tomorrow, with Xabi Alonso the main injury concern following the foot injury he sustained at Preston.
Fernando Torres and Martin Sktrel will be pushing for places in the starting line-up after substitute appearances in the past two weeks.
However, in the case of centre-back Skrtel, Benitez has suggested he is no rush to press him back into action because of the faith he has in his defence, and Sami Hyypia in particular.
If the Finn is picked for the trip to the Britannia Stadium, it will be his sixth start in seven Premier League games and his 700th senior appearance.
“I have a lot of confidence in Sami,” said Benitez. “He is a fantastic professional so I knew he would play really well.
“Clearly, when you talk about Sami you are talking about a player who has been here for a long time.
“We have very good centre-backs here and it is good to see all of them competing for a place.
“That can only be good for the team.”
The move would safeguard Liverpool against a clause in the winger’s contract – that entitles him to an automatic 12-month extension if he plays 15 games this season – not being activated.
Pennant has only made four appearances during this campaign and hasn’t featured since the home league game with Portsmouth on October 29.
With Liverpool leading the Premier League there is little prospect of the 25-year-old making up the remaining quota of games towards the end of the season and Saturday’s third round win over Preston displayed Rafael Benitez’s intention to field strong sides in the FA Cup.
Although Pennant is clearly out of his manager’s plans, Liverpool are keen to recoup a fee for a player they signed for £6.7m in the summer of 2006, particularly as there is no shortage of interest in him.
Although AC Milan’s recent desire to sign him was on a free, Real Madrid were prepared to pay £3m for him before the deal collapsed over personal terms.
And there are a clutch of Premier League clubs willing to take a chance on the erratic Pennant, including Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur.
However, they are aware that Pennant’s lack of action means he is certain to be a free agent at the end of the season, which has prompted Liverpool to draw up new terms for him.
Benitez, meanwhile, is preparing his team for the trip to Stoke City tomorrow, with Xabi Alonso the main injury concern following the foot injury he sustained at Preston.
Fernando Torres and Martin Sktrel will be pushing for places in the starting line-up after substitute appearances in the past two weeks.
However, in the case of centre-back Skrtel, Benitez has suggested he is no rush to press him back into action because of the faith he has in his defence, and Sami Hyypia in particular.
If the Finn is picked for the trip to the Britannia Stadium, it will be his sixth start in seven Premier League games and his 700th senior appearance.
“I have a lot of confidence in Sami,” said Benitez. “He is a fantastic professional so I knew he would play really well.
“Clearly, when you talk about Sami you are talking about a player who has been here for a long time.
“We have very good centre-backs here and it is good to see all of them competing for a place.
“That can only be good for the team.”
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