Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp hopeful of 'positive solution' to Jon Flanagan contract talks

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed hope that contract talks with Jon Flanagan will have a positive solution for all parties. The 23-year-old has risen through the youth ranks at Anfield, making an impressive debut under Kenny Dalglish during a 3-0 win against Manchester City in May 2011.

Despite such a promising start to his senior career, however, Flanagan's development has been severely disrupted by persistent injury problems. After making 25 appearances in 2013/14 and being handed his first England cap by Roy Hodgson as a second-half substitute in a World Cup warm-up friendly with Ecuador, he eventually missed all of the following campaign with a serious knee problem.

The Merseyside native underwent another operation last April and was later ruled out for a further six months. He finally returned to action with a 30-minute outing for Liverpool's U21 side against Fleetwood in late December and subsequently featured for the first team in cup outings against Exeter City, Stoke City and West Ham United.

Currently considered as the primary back-up to first-choice right-back Nathaniel Clyne with summer arrival Joe Gomez sidelined due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, Flanagan signed a one-year contract extension in May 2015. That deal is due to expire in less than four months and Klopp admits that further talks will take place.

"Of course we think about Flanno's situation," he said in a press conference, as relayed by the Liverpool Echo. "That's clear. The best news is that Flanno is back, so that's how it is. After this long, long injury, you always have to be careful.

"That's not too easy for Flanno because he has a lot of qualities but I think patience is not the biggest one. He really had to be patient in this long trip. After a game, he needs a day or two more to recover. It's not always a game, then it's a hard session and we have to say 'OK, stop'... That's not easy for him or perfect for us. Of course Flanno is our boy and we will do everything that we can.

"Hopefully at the end it's a positive solution for both sides. In this moment, I can't say more on this. There will be a few talks and then we will see what happens."