Liverpool to deal 'very sensibly' with Joel Matip contract situation

Liverpool will deal with Joel Matip's contract situation 'very sensibly' following the defender's season-ending injury, according to one journalist.

Matip's contract is set to expire with the Reds next summer, with no agreement in place at present to renew the 32-year-old's deal.

The Cameroon international suffered a season-ending ACL rupture during Liverpool's 4-3 victory over Fulham in early December, meaning the centre-back may have played his final game at Anfield.

While Matip performed admirably for Liverpool this season prior to his injury, he will be 33 come August, with Liverpool potentially eyeing a younger replacement in next summer's transfer market.

Liverpool showed that they were willing to be ruthless when it comes to squad planning last season, the Reds letting James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leave on free transfers.]

However, transfer expert Dean Jones expects Liverpool to be more sympathetic this summer when it comes to Matip.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones stated: "I can't see Liverpool just discarding him at this point. Obviously, they’re very good at player care and they are a very loyal club generally, and Klopp and Matip have a good relationship and they're very close.

"So I think that they will deal with this in a very careful way. It's a big blow given the injury news, obviously, and it coincides horribly for him with his contract situation.

"But this is one that I think Liverpool will deal with very sensibly and they'll try to find a way that makes this not as hard as it could be for Matip."

Liverpool have been linked with a number of centre-backs in recent weeks, although they are not expected to make a defensive signing in the January transfer window.

Goncalo Inacio of Sporting CP is one name that continues to be linked with the Reds, while teenager Leny Yoro of Lille is also on Liverpool's radar.