Liverpool have opened contract negotiations with captain Steven Gerrard as the club’s American owners look to reinforce his long-term role at Anfield.
Despite his absence through injury, owners Fenway Sports Group have already held discussions with Gerrard’s representatives about lengthening his current deal.
The 31-year-old has 18 months left on an existing contract, but from the moment they bought the club over a year ago FSG have made it clear they wish Gerrard to spend the remainder of his career at his boyhood team.
The same applies to Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher, who signed a three year deal last year prior to the takeover but is seen by the hierarchy as integral to the club’s identity.
Gerrard’s existing agreement will take him to his 33rd birthday, and an extension, likely to be another two years, represents a show of faith in his ability to overcome recent injury setbacks.
Although the latest negotiations began before he suffered the ankle injury which has put him back on the sidelines, he is expected to make a full recovery from the infection.
Gerrard has been at Anfield since his schoolboy days and after resisting the temptation to leave for Chelsea on three occasions between 2003-2005, and rejecting numerous less publicised offers from Inter Milan and Real Madrid, he said when penning his last deal in 2009 he would remain at Liverpool for as long as he was wanted. He rebuffed another approach from Jose Mourinho after the 2010 World Cup.
There was never a doubt manager Kenny Dalglish would seek to retain the experience of both Gerrard and Carragher as he seeks to mould a new side with the assistance of their invaluable experience.
FSG have informed the pair they see roles for them as part of the staff when they finish playing, should they decide to pursue such a course.
The Liverpool duo have come integral to how the club presents itself both on and off the park and FSG have no wish to allow rivals to benefit from the wisdom and inside knowledge of Anfield which they’ve garnered throughout their two decades.
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