Steven Gerrard will open talks with Liverpool over a new contract next week in a move which the Merseyside club hopes will pave the way for Michael Owen to confirm his long-term future lies at Anfield.
Gerrard has 18 months to run on his current deal with talks between his representatives SFX and Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, over a new five-year deal due to commence formally before Gerard Houllier's side travel to Slovenia for next week's UEFA Cup first-round tie against Olimpija Ljubljana. The contract is likely to inflate his wage from £30,000 to around £55,000-a-week.
Although the 23-year-old, like his England team mate Owen, whose deal also expires in the summer of 2005, was dismayed at Liverpool's failure to reach the Champions League he has made clear his desire to stay at the club.
"I've been here all my career and never thought about playing for anyone else," he said, when linked with Chelsea earlier this summer. "I'm ready to commit myself to the club's future and I'm sure that's going to happen."
Securing Gerrard's future will surely impact upon Houllier's hopes of convincing Owen to stay. Talks with the England striker, another SFX client, on a new deal - he currently earns around £50,000-a-week - have yet to begin although Liverpool are confident he will eventually put pen to paper.
"We will be discussing the contract in due time," said Houllier whose policy has been to tie players to long-term deals in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the scenario which saw Steve McManaman leave under the Bosman ruling four years ago.
"We know what Michael wants and that he's keen to stay here."
Liverpool City Council have written to Liverpool and Everton urging the Premiership rivals to explore the possibility of ground-sharing in a new, purpose-built stadium to be part-funded by public money.
The local authority contacted the clubs' respective chief executives, Parry and Michael Dunford, and made clear its willingness to act as a broker in any discussions. However, opposition from fans and boardroom scepticism is likely to see the advice fall on deaf ears.
David Henshaw, the council's chief executive, said: "There are many advantages for both clubs in sharing a stadium, not least the substantial savings to them in building a new ground, money which could be spent on team development."
Liverpool are due to submit a planning application at the beginning of next month for a multi-million pound stadium to be built in Stanley Park. Everton's plans to move to the King's Dock site were formally scrapped earlier this year, though they are still keen to move to a new arena.
England international Owen Hargreaves said yesterday Chelsea had tried to sign him from Bayern Munich this summer but were turned down by the German champions.
