Jamie Carragher stalls on new Liverpool contract

Jamie Carragher has put contract talks with Liverpool on hold.

Anfield boss Rafa Benitez confirmed that the former England defender is comfortable with the prospect of going into the final year of his current deal – even though the rest of Liverpool’s big-name players are close to agreeing extensions.

Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun have already committed themselves to new contracts and Pepe Reina and Javier Mascherano are likely to follow suit.

But after initial talks between Carragher and Liverpool about extending his 14-year career at the club, the 32-year-old is keen to discover first whether he can retain his place in Benitez’s line-up next season.

Benitez said: “There is no news about Carragher. We have spoken to him and he was very clear that at this ­moment he just wants to concentrate on doing his job.

“When you are considering contracts for players who are over 30 it is not the same as when you are talking to players who are 25. With Carra we have to see. He is fit and he is doing well and we will see. We don’t have a club rule about players over 30, but it does depend on the individual.

“I think Jamie prefers the situation as it is. The information I have is that he is comfortable with how things are and that he wants to wait.”

Carragher has already indicated he would rather finish his career in the USA or Australia than spend his time on the Anfield sidelines. Signing an extension now would only limit his options.

Benitez expects Reina and Mascherano to sign deals in the coming weeks after negotiations went well.

“Reina is about to sign a new contract and we hope it will be the same with Mascherano,” said Benitez. “I was speaking to Javier’s agent on Thursday and he said he is really pleased with the club and he wants to stay.

“Mascherano has won the title in both Brazil and Argentina so he is used to playing at the very top, but the most important thing for him and any player is happiness. He can see that the club is going forward and as long as that is the case we are OK.

“It is the same with Pepe Reina. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world – and he is definitely the best in the Premier League.

“We want to finish in the top four but it is clear players are happy to stay because they see a good future.

“Once those deals are completed we will be in a good position. Players like Torres, Gerrard, Kuyt and Agger have signed and the future is good.”

But Fabio Aurelio is unlikely to be given a new contract after rejecting an extension at the end of last season.

The Brazilian defender has struggled with injuries this season and Benitez added: “I have spoken to Aurelio and at the end of last season we offered him an extension that he didn’t accept.

“Since then he has suffered with too many injuries and it now depends on him recovering his fitness and playing some games.”