Jon Flanagan has reaffirmed his commitment to Liverpool in the final months of his contracts, saying he wants to emulate Jamie Carragher.
Flanagan is currently set to see his Liverpool contract out this season, with no breakthrough in talks regarding an extension so far.
But while the likes of Jose Enrique and Joao Carlos Teixeira are almost certain to leave the club this summer, Flanagan’s commitment to the club, and his clear potential, suggest he could remain on Merseyside for 2016/17.
This would be the ideal solution for the 23-year-old, who explained on Friday: “I want to be a one-club man.”
“I feel very privileged to be here,” he said, speaking at an LLS event at Liverpool Hope University.
“It was always my dream to play for Liverpool.
“I pinch myself every day when I think about what I’ve done so far but hopefully there’s a lot more to come.
“Carra and Stevie were both massive for me. From the first day I went to Melwood, they were giving me great advice and guiding me.
“Being local lads themselves, they knew the situation I was in.
“I learned so much from them.
“I’m a local lad and this is my club. I want to stay here and help Liverpool win trophies. I want to be a one-club man.”
After a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, Jurgen Klopp has taken a patient approach to Flanagan’s reintroduction to the first team.
This has seen the full-back omitted from Liverpool’s Europa League squad for the initial knockout stages, with Flanagan “gutted” to have missed out on a place, leaving him few opportunities to prove his fitness beyond the training field.
His next chance could come in Sunday’s clash away to Crystal Palace, with Flanagan insisting he is fit to start his second game in five days.
“I’m ready for Sunday. The knee isn’t a problem at all,” he continued.
“Most of the lads have two recovery days after a game. That’s not an issue.
“I’m pretty much on the same schedule. Maybe just one or two days here and there are different, but I am available.
“I’ve been available for every game since January. I feel great.”
Klopp himself has admitted he regrets leaving Flanagan out of his Europa League squad, with an improvement in the fitness of his centre-backs leaving January loanee Steven Caulker an unnecessary addition.
“Now we have too many centre-halves,” admitted Klopp.
“The day before we put the squad list in we didn’t have any. Now we have too many and you think: ‘My God what have we done?’”
Caulker hasn’t featured since January 23rd, his third sub appearance for the club.
After an impressive showing against Manchester City on Wednesday night, Flanagan could move ahead of Alberto Moreno in the full-back pecking order.
With two weeks between league outings after Sunday’s trip to Selhurst Park, another start for Flanagan could make sense.
If he does feature, he will be desperate to make his mark and earn a new contract.
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