Hodgson wants new Carra deal

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson says he is eager for the club to begin contract negotiations with Jamie Carragher.

Defender Carragher, 32, has one year left on his current deal and Hodgson says he believes the Merseysider will remain at Liverpool for life.

"I'm sure it (a contract extension) will be a priority," said Hodgson.

Meanwhile, Hodgson has also admitted his frustration at failing to lure former Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia back to the club in a coaching role.

Hyypia left Liverpool to join German side Bayer Leverkusen in 2009 and Hodgson explored the possibility of bringing the Finn back.

But his approaches were rebuffed with Leverkusen keen to keep hold of the 36-year-old, who spent 10 years at Anfield.

"I'm a bit disappointed that my attempts to bring Sami Hyypia back failed," Hodgson told the club's website.

"It only failed because he's so important to Bayer Leverkusen. We couldn't get him out of his contract."

On 31 March Carragher stated his desire to stay at Liverpool for life having said days earlier that he would have "no problem" in leaving the club.

The defender made his Liverpool debut in 1997 and has played nearly 600 times for the club, also winning the Champions League in 2005.

"I now know that Carragher has got one year left," added Hodgson, who only took charge of the club last month.

"Quite frankly so much has happened in the last five weeks. The hours I've spent at the club are enormous, but we haven't actually got round to discussing contracts with players.

"That's the only contract of a player that I know about - if you asked me how many years the others have got, I haven't got a clue.

"I can see players like Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard never leaving Liverpool Football Club. I can see them always being part of the club."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.