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Liverpool may have done their best to break the run on negativity by beating Newcastle last week, but having lost to Arsenal and Manchester United before that and Aston Villa afterwards, Liverpool’s season has, for most, taken rather a turn for the worse. After a short resurgence, the doom and gloom that dominated the autumn has returned in full force.
Intentional or not, the reaction by the club and those connected to the club at least has the appearance of doubling down on the contract extension news this week. First, Jordan Henderson was totally going to sign an £100k per week deal. Then, Martin Skrtel wasn’t leaving—he was about to sign a new deal of his own. Then the club’s kit sponsorship deal got a 50% payout boost and extended through 2019.
Today’s contract news heads back to the playing side, with friendly reporters being briefed that young attacker Jordon Ibe is going to officially extend his contract before the week ends. Ibe’s current contract runs through 2017, but with the 19-year-old returning from loan in January and becoming a regular in the first team rotation—while looking on the verge of taking the next step—a new deal was a priority.
The new deal, when it’s signed, is expected to run through 2020, and deals for all three players—both Skrtel and Henderson along with Ibe—could be made official before the match against West Brom on Saturday. Further, while it won’t be coming that soon, the club also expect to sign Jon Flanagan to a new deal before his contract expires at the end of the season.
