UK Roundup

Gerrard confident of new Liverpool deal

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) -- Stephen Gerrard said he was hopeful of securing a new deal at Liverpool but added that he would not rule out a move abroad.

"I have two years left on my contract and everyone knows when you reach that stage it's really make or break time," the England midfielder told Liverpool's Web site Sunday.

"Would I move abroad? You can never say never. But everyone knows I'm happy at Liverpool.

"I'm 23 and still have time on my current deal and I'm sure I'll sign a new contract fairly soon to stay. But I don't know when discussions will start.

"I think the club want me and I want them, so I'm sure things will get sorted out," he said.

Mols signs new one-year contract with Rangers

GLASGOW (Reuters) -- Dutch striker Michael Mols has signed a new one-year contract with Scottish champion Rangers, the club said Sunday.

"The club are delighted Michael has signed a new contract," Rangers director Martin Bain told reporters. "He brings a lot of experience, especially at European level, and that will be important for the squad next season."

The 32-year-old Mols, who joined Rangers from FC Utrecht in 1999, scored 14 goals as Rangers lifted the domestic treble of League Cup, league title and Scottish Cup for only the seventh time.

He also scored in the 6-1 final-day rout of Dunfermline Athletic that handed Rangers the championship on goal difference from Glasgow rival Celtic.

Rangers fans will be happy that Mols has signed a new contract after the recent departures of Arthur Numan and Claudio Caniggia.

Media reports suggest Italian defender Lorenzo Amoruso will also leave to join Blackburn Rovers while Bert Konterman is likely to be released from his contract during the close season.

Spanish under-21 midfielder Mikel Arteta is keen to return to Spain and the Glasgow club says it will listen to offers for him only one year after he joined from Barcelona.

But Rangers will enhance its squad for next season with FC Porto forward Nuno Capucho, who is due to hold talks with the club this week. Dundee defender Zurab Khizanishvili is also likely to join.

 

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