Wednesday 22 April 2015 15:41, UK
Liverpool are close to securing the long term futures of Martin Skrtel and Jordon Ibe, according to Sky sources.
Defender Skrtel, 30, has one year left on his current contract, while 19-year-old Ibe, who spent the first half on this season on loan at Derby, sees his deal expire in 2017.
The pair are set to follow vice-captain Jordan Henderson in committing himself to Anfield, after Sky Sports reported on Tuesday he was on the verge of signing on for a further five years - Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge have signed new long-term deals this season.
I am not leaving anywhere, not to Wolfsburg, nor to Naples.
Skrtel, who had been linked with summer moves to Wolfsburg and Napoli, moved quickly to play down the reports.
“I am not leaving anywhere,” the centre-back said. “Not to Wolfsburg, nor to Naples.”
Skrtel’s intermediary Karol Csonto also confirmed there had been no contact from the German side.
He said: “The only offer which is lying on Martin Skrtel’s table right now is the extension of his contract from Liverpool.
“We have been working on the details, and we will be finalising it soon. It is not true that he has some offer from the German club. I don’t know anything even about their interest.”
Ibe, who joined Liverpool in 2012, returned to Merseyside in January after a loan spell in the Championship with Derby.
That moved cup-tied him for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa, but the winger has made eight appearances for Brendan Rodgers' side this season, including an eye-catching performance against Everton at Goodison Park.
Ibe is now hoping to establish a regular place by impressing on the club's pre-season tour to Australia and Malaysia.
"It's really important to get into the gaffer's mind of who could be in the starting XI for the first Premier League game, and just do well and keep your fitness up," he told LFCTour.com.
"I'm looking forward to it a lot."
Despite finding himself under scrutiny in recent weeks having been the latest English footballer pictured holding shisha pipes with team-mate Raheem Sterling, Rodgers is keen to secure the teenager's services on a long-term deal.
