Formal negotiations over Brendan Rodgers’ new Liverpool deal will begin imminently, according to a report on Friday.

The Metro’s Jamie Sanderson says talks have taken place between Rodgers and the club’s principal owner John Henry over extending his contract.

Sanderson claims the new three-year deal for Rodgers will be worth “about £2.5 million-a-year”. He writes:

It’s thought that owner Henry phoned the Northern Irishman this week to reassure him that he’s the man to take the club forward – and formal negotiations over a contract extension will begin imminently.

Reports back in December in the Mirror and Liverpool Echo suggested similar, with the club keen to tie up a deal.

Only the Daily Mail suggest Rodgers is already earning over £3 million per year.

Rodgers’ current deal at Liverpool ends in June 2015, but the Northern Irishman has already signalled his desire to stay on at Anfield.

Last week he hinted that he was seeking a start to negotiations over his new contract and for his backroom staff.

“I have regular contact with the owners and it is never mentioned,” he told the Guardian. “I talk more about players.

“My ambition is more for the club so I want the players tied up so we can keep the best players and get players in.

“The club knows my feelings in that I love it here and hopefully – if I can progress and be good and everyone is happy – stay here.

“If it’s not to be for the owners and they want a different direction at the end of it, I will have done my best.”

The 41-year-old has lead Liverpool on a march of progression since taking over from Kenny Dalglish in the summer of 2012. This excellent graph by Twitter user @DanKennett illustrates how far Liverpool have sunk since Rafa Benitez’s days at the club, and how far Rodgers has risen the club again:

Remarkable consistency being shown under Rodgers. You can also clearly see the continual, marginal improvements pic.twitter.com/xn6jtS3p0u — Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) February 13, 2014

Rodgers is currently preparing the team for this Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round clash away at Arsenal

The match kicks off at 4pm and is live on BT Sport 1.