Sources: Liverpool to open new talks with in-form star out of contract next year

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Published on:

24 Apr 2019, 8:11 am

EXCLUSIVE By Harry Talbot

Liverpool are preparing to open new contract talks with Joel Matip, Football Insider understands.

The defender has revived his Anfield career with a series of outstanding performances in the second half of the season that has been instrumental in the club's dual assault on the Premier League and Champions League.

A Liverpool source told Football Insider that the club are eager to tie Matip, 27, down to a new deal to replace his current agreement, which expires in June 2020.

The centre-back has made 27 appearances this season, including 22 starts, and has been Virgil Van Dijk's regular partner at the back since Joe Gomez suffered an ankle injury in early December that required surgery.

Matip delivered a man-of-the-match display in Sunday's 2-0 Premier League win over Cardiff City and has been key to the team conceding just 20 league goals this season, the best in the top flight.

The Cameroonian signed a four-year contract when he joined on a free transfer from Schalke in the summer of 2016.

This will have just a year to run at the end of the campaign and he will have to weigh up whether to accept the new offer Liverpool will table or potentially leave.

In other Liverpool news, RB Leipzig move in on signing red-hot Anfield ace who has just rejected a new five-year contract.

Liverpool FC