Liverpool round-up: Can discusses contract stand-off; La Liga star linked; French teen rejected move

By Sam Leveridge

Liverpool midfielder has denied claims that he is holding out in contract talks over a new deal to earn more money, as the German midfielder told the Telegraph that he wants to stay at the club by saying:

“I read it was about money but it isn’t about money. It is never about the money. We’ve had a few good meetings and everything is fine. I am happy at Liverpool. You never know what will happen in football but I am happy here and I am still contracted here. Everything is fine. It is about the future, what happens. The last few months the most important thing has been that I am pain-free and we have spoken more about that than the contract. We will speak in the next few weeks and months and see what happens. I want to play injury-free. The meetings are with my agent but I am very happy at Liverpool. In the future I can play for many years at Liverpool.”

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The 23-year-old scored a crucial goal for the Reds against Burnley at the weekend in what was one of his best displays of the season, and he will now be hoping to maintain some good form and establish himself as first choice in midfield with Jordan Henderson out of action with an injury.

If he did opt to leave, a potential replacement could be Las Palmas midfielder Roque Mesa as Marca say that Liverpool have joined other Premier League clubs Everton and Tottenham. The 27-year-old may not fit the typical signing that the club have looked to make of late but has been one of La Liga’s best players this season.

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Mesa is believed to be on the fringes of a first call-up to the Spanish national squad as a reward for his good form, and the Canary Islands club are expecting offers for his services when the transfer window opens in the summer.

One man who claims to have rejected a move is Marseille winger Maxime Lopez as the Liverpool Echo and the Daily Mail translated quotes from his interview with L’Equipe, in which he said:

“They approached me in a good way. I even met Steven Gerrard at the stadium after a game. They said to me: ‘In five years you get Coutinho’s place.’ I wanted to go there, but also to stay at Marseille. To go like that, at this age and even with your family, is very hard. I had noticed that they had 30 young professional players, not to mention the youth players. You really have to be mentally prepared.”

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The 19-year-old, who has been a regular in the heart of midfield for the Ligue Un club, has set up seven goals and scored one himself in his 26 appearances to date. He could remain a target for the club though should he continue his surge to fame.

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