Striker
Emile Heskey has signed an extension to his current Liverpool contract
that will tie him to the club until 2005.
scoring 26 league goals.
Heskey
was widely expected to agree new terms at Anfield ahead of the new
season and concluded negotiations before travelling to Switzerland
with the rest of the first-team squad for a pre-season training
camp this week.
The England international follows in the footsteps of Norway defender
John Arne Riise and Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia who have also
agreed to extend their contracts recently, while Czech Republic
pair Patrik Berger and Vladimir Smicer have both agreed in principle
to put pen to paper on fresh deals.
"Both Vladimir Smicer and Patrik Berger have agreed to stay
and Emile Heskey has already signed," manager Gerard Houllier
told the club's website.
"These players have been loyal servants to us and I am delighted
these matters have been sorted out."
It was reported on Thursday that Berger was prepared to accept the
club's offer of a one-year extension to his current deal and he
should sign up next month, while Smicer has agreed to a three-year
extension.
Heskey joined Liverpool from Leicester in March 2000 for £11m
and has made 83 Premiership appearances for Houllier's side.
