Raheem Sterling and the Contracts Liverpool Must Arrange to Ensure Progress

Raheem Sterling's contract situation at Liverpool shows no signs of a breakthrough, despite reports in January claiming it would be "signed off" this month.

Writing for The Telegraph on January 28, Chris Bascombe claimed: "The Merseyside club are in negotiations with Sterling over a long-term deal which they hoped to have signed before the end of this month."

Bascombe explained that the delay was due to Sterling's agent changing agencies, which had "complicated the process" over whether the commission for the deal would be paid to the previous agency or the new one set up by the agent.

Since then, Steven Gerrard urged the club to sort out the 20-year-old's future (via The Telegraph), Brendan Rodgers claimed he's been offered an "incredible deal for a young player" (via BBC Sport) and Sterling himself discussed the new deal, saying he hoped it would be "sorted soon" (via The Liverpool Echo).

Sterling's current deal expires in the summer of 2017, and Liverpool must get him tied to the club for the long term.

The England attacker has reportedly been offered £100,000 per week (per Bascombe), but his representatives are holding out for more.

The fact that Sterling has been chosen ahead of experienced internationals in Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini up front this season with Daniel Sturridge sidelined means Liverpool are hardly in a position to claim he shouldn't be earning top wages.

While Sterling's contract issues are well documented, there's a host of Liverpool players whose contracts expire as soon as this summer. Here are four more key men with whom the Reds need to sign new deals.

Martin Skrtel

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Martin Skrtel's current deal expires next summer (via Transfermarkt), and Liverpool would be wise to sign the experienced 30-year-old to a new deal.

His last deal was agreed upon back in 2012 amid interest from Manchester City, while reports in January of this year claimed a new deal was being readied.

Skrtel is one of the few experienced members of the squad and will be one of the longest-serving players once Steven Gerrard departs this summer, having been at the club seven years.

Andy Hunter of the Guardian claims the Reds are "keen to retain the services of [the] central defender"—and rightfully so.

Jordan Henderson

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While Steven Gerrard publicly urged Liverpool to sort Raheem Sterling's contract situation, he also encouraged them to do likewise with Jordan Henderson, whose current deal, like Skrtel's, has just over a year remaining on it.

Said Gerrard, via The Telegraph:

"

Not just him [Sterling], Jordan Henderson as well. When I was coming through at Liverpool, every time you got within a couple of years left your contract would be renewed and there would no worrying or panic stage but I see Henderson with a year left and I see Sterling - it is in the paper too much - and I know there is no smoke without fire.

So, for me, the message to the club is to get these done sharpish because these are the future of the club and I want to watch this team do well, in cup finals and challenging for the league.

"

Gerrard clearly sees Liverpool's new laid-back approach to handling contract negotiations as being a dangerous strategy.

Typically, a new deal is signed by the time any first-team player reaches the final two years of his contract, but Liverpool now have a host of players in the final two years of theirs.

Jon Flanagan

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Jon Flanagan was, according to the player himself, via The Liverpool Echo, close to signing a new deal back in August.

"There have been some talks and I should be signing a new contract soon,” Flanagan told the Echo.

"It would be reward for all the hard work I’ve put in. It would be great for me and great for my family as well.

"All I’ve ever wanted is to play for Liverpool and I want to stay here for as long as I possibly can."

Seven months later, the 22-year-old full-back is still yet to sign a new deal, despite his current one expiring this summer.

Sidelined with a knee injury all season, only returning to full training in recent weeks, Flanagan has returned with Liverpool no longer playing with traditional full-backs. He may see an opportunity as the right-sided centre-back in a three as cover there.

James Pearce wrote in the Echo in January that "talks over a new deal have dragged on and are yet to reach a successful conclusion." That seems to be a worrying trend at Anfield.

Kolo Toure

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Kolo Toure is another experienced player whose future is in doubt and who Liverpool could benefit from keeping around the club.

The Ivorian's current deal expires this summer, and there have been suggestions, according to Sky Sports, that he may leave the club after only being offered a one-year deal.

Speaking after the 0-0 draw with Blackburn, Toure said (per Press Association, via This Is Anfield):

"We are still talking to the club. We will see in a few days. The club have to think and I have to think.

"It is a big decision and that is why I need to think very hard and take a decision and stick with it.

"It is very important to know what you are facing. I need to do the right thing for me and my family."

Having won the Premier League with both Arsenal and Manchester City, Toure offers valuable experience and reliable cover in defence. He'd be worth having around next season, at least.

Question marks over a player's future cannot be healthy for the individual or the football club, and Liverpool need to tie down their key players before their risky strategy backfires spectacularly.