Liverpool Transfer News: Flanagan signs new deal

In what has proved to be a really busy week for Liverpool FC as regards to the transfer negotiations and contract extensions, the highly-rated 18 year-old right back John Flanagan has signed a new four-year deal with the club. Flanno’s deal comes right after defenders Johnson and Wisdom put pen to paper on their contract extensions.

Flanagan proved to be a revelation after given seven first-team appearances under Kenny Dalglish after the unfortunate injury to another academy starlet, Martin Kelly. His influence was such that Kenny had no qualms in shifting our regular right-back Glen Johnson to the left, even in crunch matches, like those against City and Arsenal. Hence the new deal.

The 18-year-old and his family were at Melwood to finalise the deal on Friday lunchtime. Liverpool’s Director of Football, Damien Comolli was full of praise for our young talent –

“The first thing everyone will say is he deserves it because he did so well for us towards the end of last season,” he said. “Flanno had a long time left on his current deal but we felt it was the right thing to do, to reward him for what he’s done.

“His attitude is absolutely terrific. As you see him on the pitch – committed, dedicated, the intensity of his game – is what he’s like off the pitch. He’s very professional, he knows how to look after himself and who to listen to, and I think that’s why he’s improved so quickly.

“He’s only 18-years-old and he’s still got so much room for improvement in every area of his game – but he’s already very good going forward, technically he’s very sound. I’m sure in two years’ time we’ll talk about him having made even bigger progress.

“We’re really looking forward to his development and seeing how he’s going to do.”

Flanno is one of the rising young stars of the Academy who have made the giant leap to the first team under King Kenny. The likes of Martin Kelly, Jay Spearing, Jonjo Shelvey, Jack Robinson apart from Flanno have all flourished under the shrewd eyes of the legendary Scotsman. Liverpool have moved quickly this week to wrap up contract extensions and new deals and it seems that the team of Comolli and Dalglish are finding their groove now. As is widely known, Kenny is a firm believer in players coming through the ranks and the future seems to be bright for other exciting prospects churning out of the Melwood mill, with the likes of Suso, Morgan and Sterling already having established them on the youth international stage.

Well, if Liverpool want to win silverware soon enough, the Reds will need our youngsters to be up and raring and that’s what King Kenny’s doing!