Liverpool: Martin Skrtel puts contract talks on hold until summer

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has revealed that he has put contract talks on hold until the end of the season.

The 30-year-old will have one year left on his contract in the summer and has been instrumental in the Reds' back four, starting in 27 league games this campaign.

The Slovakian international revealed Liverpool were keen on tying Skrtel to a new deal. However, the player claims he wants to focus on his game and will decide on his future after the end of this term.

"There was contact with the club a few months ago but at the moment I am just focusing on my game and focusing on the football and then at the end of the season we will see where we stand," the Liverpool Echo quoted Skrtel as saying.

"At the moment I am just focusing on my job and then after the season if they want then we can talk."

Skrtel now joins a host of players at Anfield who have turned down a chance to extend their contracts. Star winger Raheem Sterling rejected a new deal which would have seen him earn £100,000 a week.

The Reds' vice-captain Jordan Henderson has also put contract talks on hold until this summer. However, the England international has hinted that he will commit his future to Brendan Rodgers's side.

The defensive duo of Kolo Toure and Jon Flanagan are out of contract in the summer. Should Skrtel decide against extending his contract, Rodgers will have a big task in sorting out Liverpool's defence for the next season.

The Merseyside club's star Steven Gerrard has already signed a pre-contract agreement with Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy for a summer transfer.

With several players' future hanging in the air, Liverpool will have to solve the contract situations of their existing players, before making further additions to the squad in the upcoming transfer window.

Meanwhile, Skrtel is serving his three-match ban for stamping on Manchester United keeper David De Gea. The centre-back will miss his side's upcoming clash against Newcastle United, which will be his last of the ban.