Which Liverpool players deserve a new contract?
The Echo’s James Pearce recently revealed when all Liverpool players’ contracts are expiring. There are 11 players whose current deals expire within two years. Emre Can’s contract runs out in 2018 while Ragnar Klavan, Alberto Moreno, Jon Flanagan, James Milner, Ben Woodburn, Lazar Markovic, Daniel Sturridge, Adam Bogdan, Divock Origi and Connor Randall all have contracts until 2019.
This got me thinking, who do Liverpool need to tie down immediately and who can Liverpool afford to let go within the next two years?
Emre Can
Can’s contract situation has been in the news for months now. Reportedly unwilling to pay his wage demands earlier in the year, Liverpool are now desperate to get the 23-year-old under a new contract.
Speculation of Juventus’ pursuit of the German hasn’t gone away and it would be a real shame for Liverpool if Can leaves Anfield having not reached the best years of his career. If Liverpool fail to tie down Can it would be a massive failure for the club who bought the German in 2014 as a 20-year-old from Bayer Leverkusen.
Can has the potential to be world class and Liverpool need to do everything in their power to keep him at Anfield. It’s a tough one to call, but hopefully, Can sees his future at Liverpool and continues to develop under Jürgen Klopp.
Adam Bogdan
How is Adam Bogdan still a Liverpool player? Somewhere in the deep depths of Melwood, Bogdan still lurks around. Having not made a first-team appearance since early 2016, Bogdan will certainly not play for Liverpool ever again and if he isn’t sold before his contract runs out, Bogdan’s Liverpool career will come to an end in the summer of 2019.
Connor Randall
Randall is currently out on loan at Hearts in Scotland and if we’re being honest, that’s his level of football. He is nowhere near good enough to succeed at Liverpool and will probably be sold before his contract runs down.
Lazar Markovic
Markovic is a bit of a forgotten man at Liverpool. He’s spent the last two seasons on loan with three different clubs, not impressing enough at either to make his loan move permanent. Liverpool looked to move on the 23-year-old in the summer, which surely means Markovic has no future at Liverpool and Klopp will look to ship him out again, whether on loan or permanently.
With Markovic still young a decent fee could be made, so I’m sure Liverpool will be hoping to sell him rather than let him leave on a free.
Jon Flanagan
Even when Flanagan played the majority of games in Liverpool’s title-challenging season in 2013/14 it was always clear that he was never really good enough.
A fan favourite because of his passion and love for the club is always nice to see Flanagan on the pitch for Liverpool, but he has rarely featured since Klopp took over in 2015 and after a failed loan spell at Burnley last season as well having Nathaniel Clyne, Moreno, Andrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez all ahead of him in the pecking order, Flanagan most likely will no longer be a Liverpool player come the summer of 2019, if not sooner.
Ragnar Klavan
An odd signing last season. Klavan hasn’t really done much at Liverpool. Brought in as a back up to Joël Matip and Dejan Lovren, the 31-year-old isn’t a terrible player but isn’t really a good one either.
With Liverpool continuing to pursue a new centre-back and Gomez trying to push himself into his preferred role, I won’t be surprised if Klavan is sold this summer. If not, don’t expect him to be offered a new contract.
Alberto Moreno
If I was writing his a few months ago I would have 100% said that Alberto Moreno not only doesn’t deserve a new contract, he should be sold as soon as possible. But this season he has proved me and most Liverpool fans wrong so far.
A great start to the season has seen Moreno earn back his place in the team while keeping new signing Robertson on the bench. It’s still early days, but if Moreno keeps up his form for the rest of the season then surely Liverpool should offer him a new contract as he enters the final year of his existing one.
James Milner
Since signing in the summer of 2015 Milner has been played in multiple positions and has always performed to a good level. Immediately given the vice-captaincy upon his arrival, Milner has been a key figure in the last two seasons under Klopp but has seen less football so far this season.
At 31-years-old, 33 by the time his contract expires and one of the club’s top earners, Liverpool might look to let his contract run out. This one could go either way and there are positives to both outcomes.
Ben Woodburn
This one is a no-brainer. Ben Woodburn will reportedly sign a new contract on his 18th birthday next week. Woodburn has impressed for the first-team, U23s and the Welsh national team over the last year or so and he could be a key player for Liverpool for years to come. It is absolutely vital that Liverpool secure Woodburn’s long-term future as he continues his development.
Divock Origi
Currently on loan at Wolfsburg, Origi is looking to get his career back on track after a bit of a disappointing 2016/17 season. Many fans have seemingly forgotten though how good Origi was the season before and have started to write him off.
A key player during the run to the Europa League final, Origi has previously shown he is good enough and capable to lead the line for Liverpool. At just 22-years-old Origi will have some inconsistency to his game but we have seen that when on form he can be great. Origi needs a contract extension as he could be Liverpool’s starting striker for the next few years.
Daniel Sturridge
As a fan, this one is the hardest one to talk about. Just a few years ago Sturridge was one of the best strikers in the world.
Now he’s a shell of his former self. The injuries have definitely taken their toll on Sturridge as he has lost all his pace and power.
When he starts he looks miles off the pace and barely gets a look in. Sturridge is still undoubtedly the best finisher at the club and with so many games to be played this season he could prove to be a vital player. But I fear this is his last chance.
With Klopp still looking to build his squad, by next summer he could have run out of patience with Sturridge and look to sell him. This season could be his last chance to show that he is still one of the best strikers around, even as a back-up option. But only time will time. I believe the decision on Sturridge’s contract will be made after the season ends as Klopp looks to see if he still has what it takes.