Sami Hyypia aiming to win new Liverpool contract

[AFII]

Sami Hyypia aiming to win new Liverpool contract
By David Maddock 26/02/2008

Sami Hyypia is aiming to win another contract at Anfield so he can join an elite club of players who have given 10 years service to Liverpool.

The Finnish defender has been linked with several Premier League clubs, as his contract runs down, with no hint yet of a new deal.

Newcastle, Fulham and Bolton were all interested, but the central defender is adamant that he wants to stay at Liverpool.

And despite approaching his 35th birthday, the centre-half believes he can earn a new contract.

"My priority would be to stay at Liverpool, but it's not only up to me," he said.

"I haven't got any offers yet from here or any other clubs, so I'm just trying to focus on the matches.

"I'm enjoying playing. I've played more games than I maybe thought I would this season because of all the injuries.

"The only thing I can do is try to play well, and when it's time to sit down see what happens.

"It would be very nice to get to 10 years at the club but I'm just concentrating on playing well."

Hyypia is the second longest serving player at the club behind Jamie Carragher, and he would enter a decade at Anfield if he wins a new deal.

And the defender admitted that at this stage of his career he is ready to accept any offer from Liverpool, no matter how

much competition he faces from other centre-halves.

Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger will return from injury this week to stake their claim to a centre-half berth at Bolton on Sunday, but Hyypia is confident his form will fight off the challenge from the youngsters for some time yet.

"Whether I stay wouldn't depend on how many games I play. I'm not like that. I'm not interested in someone promising me anything," he added.

"If we have four centre-backs, then everyone fights for their place and performances should determine who plays.

"If I keep playing well then it'll be very difficult for the manager to change things."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...9520-20332058/

[G]

Give him one.He's been outstanding this year when alot of people had written him of as past it.

[Craig_H]

As for Sami, great servant and legend in the making. No arrogant demands to play, just loyalty and desire to continue serving the club

[1 True Red]

Sami Hyypia aiming to win new Liverpool contract
By David Maddock 26/02/2008

Sami Hyypia is aiming to win another contract at Anfield so he can join an elite club of players who have given 10 years service to Liverpool.

The Finnish defender has been linked with several Premier League clubs, as his contract runs down, with no hint yet of a new deal.

Newcastle, Fulham and Bolton were all interested, but the central defender is adamant that he wants to stay at Liverpool.

And despite approaching his 35th birthday, the centre-half believes he can earn a new contract.

"My priority would be to stay at Liverpool, but it's not only up to me," he said.

"I haven't got any offers yet from here or any other clubs, so I'm just trying to focus on the matches.

"I'm enjoying playing. I've played more games than I maybe thought I would this season because of all the injuries.

"The only thing I can do is try to play well, and when it's time to sit down see what happens.

"It would be very nice to get to 10 years at the club but I'm just concentrating on playing well."

Hyypia is the second longest serving player at the club behind Jamie Carragher, and he would enter a decade at Anfield if he wins a new deal.

And the defender admitted that at this stage of his career he is ready to accept any offer from Liverpool, no matter how

much competition he faces from other centre-halves.

Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger will return from injury this week to stake their claim to a centre-half berth at Bolton on Sunday, but Hyypia is confident his form will fight off the challenge from the youngsters for some time yet.

"Whether I stay wouldn't depend on how many games I play. I'm not like that. I'm not interested in someone promising me anything," he added.

"If we have four centre-backs, then everyone fights for their place and performances should determine who plays.

"If I keep playing well then it'll be very difficult for the manager to change things."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...9520-20332058/

Sami deserves a new 1 or 2yr Contract as he's been outstanding for us since he signed all them years ago, i'd be bitterly disapointed if he never got at least a 1yr one (even a pay as you play one) so that he can be rewarded with a testimonial for the service he has given the Club all these years.

Go on Liverpool Football Club, do the right thing, you know you ought to right

Sami we all you

Sami, Sami, Sami

[Skillz]

Surely a new deal is a given. He deserves it 10 times over and makes no great demands. We would of been ****ed if he didnt stand up this year for so many games which I am sure noone at the club expected him to have to play.

He would be worth it just for his influence at training and the changeroom.

[Kenneth]

****ing legend. Give him new 10 year contract

[homer1]

Posted this on another thread but more relevant here

Wouldn't be on huge money, no settling in period and still able to do a bloody good job for us if he didn't have to play the number of games in a row that he has had to this year. Model professional who won't complain about not playing week in week out. Absolute no-brainer for me

[Darkon]

A legend like Sami should get another contract, even if he doesen't get to play to much, he would still be a great influence for youngsters and the newbies to the squad!

A legend like him should be able to retire in his own time, and get 1 year extension untill he no longer feels he can contribute... Like Milan is doing with Maldini and real who just given 10 year contracts to Raul and Casillas!

[Imy]

He is a legend BUT i wouldn't give him a new contract, he is not getting any younger we will when fit have 3 QUALITY centre backs and i rather the 4th spot went on another quality young centre back.

Sami reads the game well, but his lack of pace does not help the team as it means the team play much deeper then they would if say Agger is playing, this then has a negative impact on the attacking side of the teams play.

As we saw on Saturday he lacked communication/organisation/leadership that Carra gives us.

Great player but time for him to move on.

[Joe King]

He is a legend BUT i wouldn't give him a new contract, he is not getting any younger we will when fit have 3 QUALITY centre backs and i rather the 4th spot went on another quality young centre back.

Sami reads the game well, but his lack of pace does not help the team as it means the team play much deeper then they would if say Agger is playing, this then has a negative impact on the attacking side of the teams play.

As we saw on Saturday he lacked communication/organisation/leadership that Carra gives us.

Great player but time for him to move on.

Time for his testimonial

[Red_hot]

Sami's been great this season.

[Imy]

Sami's been great this season.

Agree with that, but i would prefer a fit Agger instead who adds more to the team play.

[homer1]

Agree with that, but i would prefer a fit Agger instead who adds more to the team play.

Nobody's suggesting he play every week mate - Carra, Agger & Skrtel will all be ahead of him in the pecking order but why bother spending money on a quality young CB who will expect to play a lot more when Sami is more than capable of slotting in now and then without rocking the boat?

[Johnny]

Posted this on another thread but more relevant here

Wouldn't be on huge money, no settling in period and still able to do a bloody good job for us if he didn't have to play the number of games in a row that he has had to this year. Model professional who won't complain about not playing week in week out. Absolute no-brainer for me

And I`ll return the favour.

[Red_hot]

Nobody's suggesting he play every week mate - Carra, Agger & Skrtel will all be ahead of him in the pecking order but why bother spending money on a quality young CB who will expaxt to play a lot more when Sami is more than capable of slotting in now and then without rocking the boat?

I'd agree with that.