Liverpool to Offer Five-Year Deal to Highly-Rated Teenage Winger – Report

Liverpool are hoping that they will soon be able to agree a new long-term contract with highly-rated winger Jordan Ibe.

The 17-year-old has already featured for the Liverpool first team and the Daily Post reports that his representatives are now in talks with the club as he looks to put pen-to-paper on a five-year contract.

Ibe turns 18 next month which allows the Reds to offer the exciting winger a long-term deal as manager Brendan Rodgers attempts to tie down a player he sees as one of the most exciting youngsters at the club.

Liverpool signed Ibe from Wycombe Wanderers back in December 2011 and he went on to make his Premier League debut in the final game of last season against Queens Park Rangers at Anfield.

He was also handed a start this season in the 4-2 League Cup win over Notts County and has seen been impressing for the Liverpool U21 side.

Ibe was the man of the match as the Under-21s beat Middlesbrough 4-3 earlier this week and despite being on the verge of committing his long-term future to the club, Rodgers confirmed that the winger may be sent out on loan.

"Jordon is only 17 years of age and we can't forget that," said Rodgers. "We don't want to rush these young players' development even though we want young players to come through and we want to put them in the first team.

"But it is also important to understand that it comes at different stages for some players.

"Jordon has been in and around the first team for most of the season but there is probably going to come a stage where he needs to go out and play games and feel the pressure. But at 17 years of age, he is still developing."

Liverpool have recently allowed young defender Andre Wisdom to join Derby County on-loan and while it seems Ibe may well be sent out as well, the pair are expected to have long and successful careers ahead of them at Anfield.