Young reds duo agree new deals

Sky Sports

Liverpool duo Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby have agreed new deals, skysports.com understands.

The Reds have been in talks with the home-grown pair for the last few months as they look to secure the duo on long-term deals.

The pair are entering the final year of their existing deals and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is keen to reward them with three-year extensions.

Midfielder Spearing, who captained the FA Youth Cup-winning side in 2007, made his debut for the first team last season and impressed as a substitute in the UEFA Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Full-back Darby is highly-rated at Anfield and he made three appearances in the first team last term.

The duo are expected to put pen-to-paper on the contracts next week when Liverpool return for pre-season training.

Good news!

I think this is great news.

I'd like to see Jay given a chance in midfield ahead of Lucas.

I can see him developing as a defensive midfielder and an alternative to Xavier if he gets injured.

Indeed, 'tis always reassuring to know we can hold on to some of our players.

I think this is great news.

I'd like to see Jay given a chance in midfield ahead of Lucas.

I can see him developing as a defensive midfielder and an alternative to Xavier if he gets injured.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Excellent news this.

I have to admit to being a little disappointed, as my first thoughts obviously turned to Xabi and Masch when I read the topic title, but these two are good prospects and hopefully Rafa's faith in them will be proven correct in a year or two!

Excellent news. I was expecting the announcing of extensions of deals for both Xabi and Masch, but instead it disappointed me a tad little!

Still good news to tie up the futures of what is probably two of our greatest home-grown prospects for the future.

Would love to see them marking their mark next season, playing an impact in bits and pieces over the course of the entire season.

Same for me when I read it on sky sports, I thought we had finally shut up the speculation. But still it's good for the club overall.

Excellent news this.

I have to admit to being a little disappointed, as my first thoughts obviously turned to Xabi and Masch when I read the topic title, but these two are good prospects and hopefully Rafa's faith in them will be proven correct in a year or two!

Same here. Thought to myself Xabi + Masch must be!

But still its always good to see 2 lads from the academy rewarded with a proper contract.

Hope to see more of them this season

I've taken the liberty of changing the topic title to avoid confusion.

Edit: You've changed it yourself in the meantime!

Changed the title to make it less misleading.

Cheers Ayrton.

Xabi and Masch both have long term deals don't they?

I suppose now that Spearing and Darby have theirs they too will be looking for a move to Spain. You're just not a top footballer unless you sign a long term contract and then try to wiggle out of it a year later.

Well done Jay lad. I'm sure you'll do us proud.

Who's that lass behind taking a photo of some lad's arse?

Who's that lass behind taking a photo of some lad's arse?

Not sure. But the zoom on that camera can probably find out what he had for tea the night before.

Not sure. But the zoom on that camera can probably find out what he had for tea the night before.

Nice to have some good news, given the current situation with Xabi and Masher.

good young souser lads, I reckon they are both ideal for the future European squad rules too.

let's hope they get more of a chance next year.

Ive been speaking to a very reliable source at liverpool. They told me that Gerrard and Carragher have been haveing numerous meetings with Rafa about playing Jay Spearing ahead of Mascherano and Lucas! This source also said that Jay Spearing would become a better player that mascherano if he were to play as many games as him, he said that Jay Spearing was " Absolutely Fu****g Amazin'"

Just thought you guys should know

Joe

Ive been speaking to a very reliable source at liverpool. They told me that Gerrard and Carragher have been haveing numerous meetings with Rafa about playing Jay Spearing ahead of Mascherano and Lucas! This source also said that Jay Spearing would become a better player that mascherano if he were to play as many games as him, he said that Jay Spearing was " Absolutely Fu****g Amazin'"

Just thought you guys should know

Joe

I'm sorry but that's absolute bollocks.

Actually... I'm not sorry.

Ive been speaking to a very reliable source at liverpool. They told me that Gerrard and Carragher have been haveing numerous meetings with Rafa about playing Jay Spearing ahead of Mascherano and Lucas! This source also said that Jay Spearing would become a better player that mascherano if he were to play as many games as him, he said that Jay Spearing was " Absolutely Fu****g Amazin'"

Just thought you guys should know

Joe

This wasn't the same meetings were they were begging Rafa to bring Owen back to Anfield was it!

And as for Spearing better than Tommy, jesus i hope no-one tells Mascherano, he'll kill Jay when they return to training.

Maybe this is why Spearing doesn't get a start in the first-team. I don't think even Lucas would lower himself into making himself look a c**t.

he'll kill Jay when they return to training.

If he returns to training.

Great news.

Good news for the lads, hopefully this does mean they have a future at Anfield.

Finally some good news, now get to work on new deals for our two first team midfielders..

If he returns to training.

He will.

It's all to do with Javier getting a better deal. He's currently on £30,000 and is obviously  wanting to be in the same pay bracket as the likes of Gerrard, Carragher, Torres and Alonso.

I'm glad Jay and Stephen Darby have got new deals as well.

Good news. Rafa clearly rates them, and hopefully they can break into the first team or at least make more of an impact within the next few seasons.

Really good news to hear this ! Jay and Stephen i feel will have a big future in the game ,all they need is a chance to fit into the team and show what they can do ...good luck lads

More excited about Darby if I'm being honest I think he's going to be a better player for us that Jay... As for him replacing Lucas... just when he's starting to shine... Honestly one of these days... *walks away grumbling*

Excellent news. Hold both in very high regard and if anyone is to come through the ranks and shine, i'd be delighted to see these two do it.

So with this you'd think Darby is our back up RB? And Spearing, hopefully, a few appearances here and there.

So with this you'd think Darby is our back up RB?

Judging by age and experience, I suppose our back up is meant to be Degen.

Putting theory into practice, however, if he has the same luck with injuries as last season then Darby will probably be our back up.

Excellent news.

Really hope to see more of the youngsters doing the same, and being involved in the 1st team.

Good to see the priorities of Rafa are clear, retain a good team with strong understandings and decent attitudes who want to work hard for the team's reward.

Delighted to see the two local boys have agreed new deals. Shows Benitez has faith in them going forward. Has to be a good thing.

Great new's this.Nice to see Rafa showing faith in some of our young good prospects.Hopefully this will give the two lad's the confidence to take it to the next level.

Liverpool's confirmation.

Liverpool have confirmed young duo Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby have agreed new three-year contracts at Anfield.

As revealed by skysports.com last week midfielder Spearing and full-back Darby - both 20 - are expected to put pen to paper on the new deals later this week.

Spearing, who captained the FA Youth Cup-winning side in 2007, made his debut for the first team last season and impressed as a substitute in the UEFA Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Darby, a former reserve-team skipper, made three first-team appearances last season.

The pair join Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Daniel Agger in agreeing new long-term deals at Liverpool.

Great news and hope they can break into the first team soon

"agreeing new long-term deals at Liverpool."

Both of them have got long term contracts judging by that press release, even better for both of them.

Were did you get this photo? His facebook?

Great news- they obviously have the reassurances that they could break into the first team. I would love to see that.

great news both good prospects need to sort kelly out as well though, as for jay being better than masch and lucas ,have a word with yerself mate!

Whats this? The new headgear to be seen in on the Kop next season 

Actually I'm made up for these two.

Darby and Spearing are the Carragher and the Gerrard of the future, we need local lads in the team, we have to have that local connection in the squad, very important in my opinion.

Whenever I've seen either of them play, they give everything to the team, passion, commitment and 100% loyalty.....keep up the good work lads and your turn will come.

Got to say my jester hat is an improvement on this headgear.

Great news would love one or both of these players to come through from the reserves

Great lads and very promising young talent, good luck fellas .. YNWA.