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Liverpool’s two of the most promising young prospects, Jordon Ibe and Jon Flanagan have signed contract extensions with the club. 19-year-old Ibe had joined the Reds’ Academy back in 2011, while 22-year-old Flanagan has been at the club since 2004.
Amidst speculation surrounding the future of another Academy graduate, Raheem Sterling, fans would be pleased to hear about the duo’s contract extension.
Ibe has reportedly signed a 5-year deal, while Flanagan has committed his future to the club by signing a 12-month extension to his current deal, which was supposed to end at the end of the season.
The young winger revealed his delight at securing his future with the English club.
“I'm over the moon. It's something I've been looking forward to. I've spoken to the gaffer and I'm happy it's over and done with. Now I just want to kick on into next season, as well as the last game of this one,” he said.
“Liverpool are a great club and I like the philosophy here. I'm enjoying it – I've just been brought into the first team and I've enjoyed the games I've played in. Hopefully, I can just keep doing well at the club.
“I have been given the chance to play quite a few games and I've enjoyed it. As I said, I just want to take that into pre-season and then next season, continuing with how it's been since I've been back here.”
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said that Ibe is a great talent and has a lot of potential.
“He has thoroughly deserved it (the contract extension). He is a young kid that has got a lot of potential; he still has a lot of work to do to become that consistent performer at the top level, but there's no doubting his potential and he has really grown and developed over the course of the last season.
“He's a great talent, a big talent here for the football club and I'm delighted that he has been able to sign and commit to the future of the club.”
Flanagan has been a huge miss for us this season: Rodgers
Flanagan is currently nursing a knee injury, which would keep him out of action for the next 6 to 9 months.
Rodgers paid a massive tribute to the full back saying he has been as big a miss as striker Daniel Sturridge.
“He has been a huge miss for us this season. But he's a wonderful example for all young players about perseverance. He kept working tirelessly in training to the point where I then felt he was ready to be put in.
“People talk about the goalscorers this year and absolutely the goalscorers that we miss, but we definitely missed Jon Flanagan in equal proportion. Because of his aggression, he's very tenacious and he's a very good footballer.”
