Liverpool are lining up a new one-year contract for
veteran defender Sami Hyypia.
And they have also opened talks with striker Peter Crouch over a
new deal.
Hyypia, 35 in October, sees his current deal run out in the
summer, and there has been interest from Fulham and Newcastle.
But the Finland international has stated he wants to complete
ten years at the club next term, and sources at Anfield have
confirmed that he will be granted his wish.
Hyypia was not expected to figure regularly this season with the
emergence of Daniel Agger as a defensive partner for Jamie
Carragher.
But the Danish youngster has been out for five months with a
metatarsal injury and only made his comeback in the reserves this
week.
That has meant Hyypia has made 33 appearances this term.
Boss Rafael Benitez has also bought £6million Slovakian defender
Martin Skrtel, but wants four centre-backs to choose from and
Hyypia will be offered the chance to finish his career at
Anfield.
However the move to tie-up Crouch on a new deal may prove more
difficult than the club are prepared to admit, although the England
striker has said he wants to stay at Anfield.
Benitez said: 'We have been talking about a new contract with
Crouch and the player has told me that he wants to stay. His agent
was talking to Rick Parry (Liverpool chief executive) and said that
the player wanted to talk.'
Crouch's situation is complicated as he in the last 18 months of
his current deal.
He will have to accept that he is third-choice at best and that
he will be used very much in the way he has been this season,
mainly from the bench.
Portsmouth and Manchester City have been trailing him, and he
would certainly get more games at another club.
Crouch will this summer be in a position to take advantage of
Article 17 of FIFA's regulations on the status and transfer of
players.
This rule allows players under the age of 28, who have served
three years of a four or five year contract, to effectively hand in
their notice and move to another club.
Crouch, 27, will finish the third year of his four-year deal at
the end of this season.
Benitez is ready to test just how happy Crouch is at Liverpool
and a formal contract offer is expected to be made imminently.