Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will open talks about a new long-term Anfield contract on Wednesday.
Gerrard's agent, Struan Marshall, is scheduled to meet
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry in a bid to finally thrash out a deal.
Real Madrid and
Chelsea have both been linked with 25-year-old, but
Liverpool are confident he will stay at Anfield.
Gerrard's current contract at
Liverpool expires in June 2007 and he is expected to be offered an £80,000-a-week deal.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is desperate to keep Gerrard at the heart of his
Champions League-winning side as he rebuilds for the future.
Gerrard's
Liverpool career has been at the centre of constant speculation, and he was poised to complete a £31m move to
Chelsea last summer before a late change of heart.
But
Liverpool are hopeful of a swift resolution to the saga once they start serious negotiations with his representatives.
Gerrard returned to pre-season training with
Liverpool on Monday, and has insisted he wants his future resolved well before the start of the new campaign.
