New Jordon Ibe Contract Is Merely 1st Step to Recovery for Liverpool

Liverpool FC have gone on a charm offensive since their season effectively ended with a disappointing display in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

In the days that have followed the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, we've had reports of Jordan Henderson agreeing a £100,000-per-week deal, per BBC Sport's Ben Smith, and the club announced the extension of their shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered on Tuesday

Wednesday has seen more positive PR from the Reds, with the Liverpool Echo's Neil Jones reporting that exciting teenager Jordon Ibe will sign a new contract at the club this week.

Not only that, but Jones reports that Martin Skrtel's new deal is close to being confirmed too.

And just for good measure, the report adds that Liverpool are now confident of agreeing a new deal with full-back Jon Flanagan, whose current contract expires this summer. Mind, the Echo also reported that Flanagan was close to signing a new long-term deal last August.

It would be naive to think that all these deals have magically been sorted in the two days since the team arrived back from London, having been dumped out of the FA Cup by a relegation-threatened Aston Villa side. Reports such as these reaching the press so soon after a season-ending defeat isn't a coincidence.

"After another difficult few days following the defeat to Villa, the club hope to steady the ship with some contract announcements," noted The Independent's Sam Wallace.

It will take more than a few contracts, that should have been sorted a long time ago, being announced to steady the ship, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

Ibe

It is perhaps a signal of just how badly this season has gone for Brendan Rodgers' side that 19-year-old Ibe was not only recalled from loan at Derby County early in January, but that Liverpool have missed him in the games he's been absent from since returning to Anfield.

Uncredited/Associated Press

Six weeks out with injury recently saw Rodgers herald the teenager's return, telling press of how he'd been "sensational" in training, per the Daily Mail.

Putting the hyperbole from Rodgers to one side, it was pleasing to have Ibe back fit—because he's the best option for the right wing-back role in a 3-4-2-1 shape.

Alas, cup-tied due to having played the last 28 minutes of Derby's third-round tie at Southport in January, Ibe was ineligible to take part at Wembley. Quite why Liverpool allowed him to take part in that game when they must already have been considering recalling him is another question.

Without Ibe, Rodgers recalled Lazar Markovic to play the role he hadn't started in over a month, having played in a more attacking role in his one start during April, away to Arsenal.

Markovic's afternoon was brought to an early end, though, removed at half-time for Mario Balotelli. The Serbian has often been the sacrificial lamb for the Reds when things haven't been going right this season.

Liverpool could have used Ibe's youthful exuberance, pace and drive out wide on the big spaces of Wembley's pitch. A simple piece of forward planning before the January transfer window would have made that possible. It typifies how badly Liverpool have got things on and off the pitch this season.

Future

Whatever happens this summer, whether Raheem Sterling stays or goes, Ibe will no doubt be a big part of the Liverpool equation next season.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Should Rodgers move away from the 3-4-2-1 formation and restore his preferred 4-3-3 shape, the young Englishman will fit in nicely as one of the two wide forward roles, which he occupied at Derby during his loan spell. Ibe had five goals and one assist in his 20 Championship games for the Rams, per Transfermarkt.

Ibe was asked about next season on the club's official pre-season tour website, explaining his desire to catch the manager's attention. "It's really important to get into the gaffer's mind of who could be in the starting XI for the first Premier League game," he said.

He is certainly one who you can foresee impressing in pre-season and forcing his way into the starting XI for next season.

Mentor

With Liverpool's squad increasingly becoming younger and younger, shorn of its senior pros and experienced players, you do worry about who Ibe will have as mentor at the club.

Jon Super/Associated Press

When Ibe's teenage years come to an end next December, there'll be no Steven Gerrard at the club. Of the attacking players, Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge will be the senior squad members, should Rickie Lambert depart as expected.

This is, of course, a problem Liverpool have in general now, having failed to acquire senior players who can mentor and help develop their youthful squad. There is a desperate shortage of leaders, especially when Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Lambert and possibly Lucas Leiva depart.

Securing the future of a prospect such as Ibe is therefore just the first step on the road to recovery for Liverpool this summer. They must now follow it up with players who can arrive to inspire and nurture Ibe.