Liverpool: Brad Jones set to leave the club despite opening contract talks

Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones is reportedly set to leave the Merseyside club at the end of the season following the expiry of his contract.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Australian stopper, who is in the final few months of his contract with the club will be allowed to leave, despite Brendan Rodgers admitting that talks over an extension had taken place.

"There have been discussions. Obviously, Brad is in his last year but nothing has been resolved on that," the Reds boss said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

But it seems that the Anfield club have reneged on the offer and the goalkeeper will be allowed to leave on a free transfer after failing to nail down a regular place in the starting lineup during his five-year stay at the club.

Jones joined Liverpool from Middlesbrough in 2010, but has made just 25 appearances for the club, as he first played backup to Pepe Reina and then to Simon Mignolet.

The Northern Irishman is keen on signing a goalkeeper to challenge Simon Mignolet on a consistent basis and has been linked with moves for Fiorentina stopper Norbeto Neto, who is also a free agent at the end of the current campaign and Club Brugge's Matthew Ryan, who will command a fee due to his contact with the Belgian club.

Mignolet, who had a poor start to the season, has been a revelation for the Merseyside club in the second half of the campaign and has been one of their best players in recent weeks, despite them being knocked out of the FA Cup and facing the prospect of missing out on a place in the Champion League next season.