Liverpool fans love nothing more than seeing one of their own come through the academy and graduate into the first team, and when Jon Flanagan did just that under Brendan Rodgers in the 'so-close-yet-so-far' 2013/14 season, many expected him to go on and become one of the club's most important players in the coming years.
Flanagan was denied the opportunity to go on and cement his place as Liverpool's first-choice full-back due to a cruel 20-month layoff due to a knee injury, but he's been back in the first team fold as of late and has wasted no time in recapturing the hearts of the Anfield faithful, as perfectly exhibited with the reaction to his crunching tackle on Raheem Sterling when Man City's title hopes were severely hindered by a 3-0 loss at Anfield recently.
The powers that be at Liverpool know how highly the fans think of Flanagan, and are set to reward him for making a full recovery from that dreadful injury with a new contract, according to The Guardian:
Jon Flanagan is set to banish doubts over his long-term Liverpool future by signing a new three-year contract with his boyhood club.
The 23-year-old defender is out of contract at the end of this season and negotiations over an extension had proceeded slowly as he recovered from a serious knee injury. However, agreement has been reached on a deal that will keep Flanagan at Anfield and is close to being signed.
Welcome news for all that align themselves with the red half of Merseyside.
We at Balls.ie appreciate Flanagan mainly for his delightful relationship with legendary Brazilian full-back Cafu, as after the Liverpool man was dubbed 'Red Cafu' by the fans, the World Cup winner made a point to see what all the fuss was about, and has been nothing but complimentary ever since, and welcomed his friend back to football upon his return:
I have a thousand tweets! I guess it's the return of a friend to the field!!! @LFC
— Cafu. (@officialcafu) January 20, 2016
Now all the Liverpool fans want is to see him stay fit and make up for lost time.
