Liverpool have started negotiations with two stars set for new contract offers

Joe Gomez and Naby Keita are in contract negotiations with Liverpool, and the club is hoping to tie both of them down before the new season begins.

Keita only has a year left on his current contract, while Gomez still has two years left but has recently been linked to moves away from Anfield.

Under Jurgen Klopp, neither player saw regular action last season, with the Englishman making only four Premier League starts and the Guinean making just 14.

Though Gomez only made 21, Keita did make 40 appearances in all competitions.

The defender was passed over in favor of players like Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, and new arrival Ibrahima Konate.

Although both players are obviously considered squad members, Liverpool believes they both play significant roles for the team and are eager to tie them down to new deals.

The Athletic reports that negotiations with Keita are still on, despite the urgency of his case considering that his current contract is set to expire in a year.

Klopp wants to keep the 27-year-old and maintain depth at this position as no further midfield additions are expected.

There is less urgency to negotiate with Gomez because his current contract doesn’t expire until 2024, but the Merseyside club still intends to offer the England international a new deal shortly.

After making just 10 Premier League starts for the Reds over the past two seasons, the defender is going to demand guarantees of more playing time in any new contract.

The 25-year-old will be eager to win over Gareth Southgate and regain his spot on the national team at the World Cup in Qatar this winter approaches.

Playing time on the pitch for his club will be pivotal in achieving this.

Gomez has predominantly played center back for Liverpool, although last season he was frequently used as a right-back replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Calvin Ramsay was probably brought in to fill this latter role, though it seems to reason that the former Charlton player would demand guarantees of playing time at the heart of the Anfield team’s defense.