Carragher has entered the final year of his contract after change of manager and the uncertainty surrounding the club's future under Tom Hicks and George Gillett put negotiations over an extension on hold. While it is unusual for Liverpool to allow a player of Carragher's standing to get so close to a Bosman transfer, Hodgson has no concerns about losing the 32-year-old. The Liverpool manager said the defender will be approached with a new deal once rebuilding efforts and possibly a takeover are complete.
"I'm sure it [a contract extension] will be a priority," said Hodgson, whose team were drawn against Trabzonspor of Turkey in the Europa League play-offs today. "Quite frankly so much has happened in the last five weeks, the hours I've spent at the club are enormous, that we haven't actually got round to discussing contracts with players. I now know that Carragher has got one year left. 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."
Hodgson believes the Bootle-born defender and Gerrard will retain integral roles at the club long after their playing careers have ended. Hodgson wanted another Liverpool stalwart, Sami Hyypia, to return to Anfield in a coaching capacity this summer but was unable to convince Bayer Leverkusen to release the Finnish defender.
He added: "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. In the same way I'm a bit disappointed that my attempts to bring Sami Hyypia back failed. It only failed because he's so important to Bayer Leverkusen. We couldn't get him out of his contract. He's one I would also put in the Jamie Carragher-Steven Gerrard mould, Liverpool for life. Unfortunately he was let go at the end of the season before last and we can't get him back. He's too valuable to them."
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