Gerrard looks set to leave Liverpool as contract talks break down

Jul 4, 2005, 14:19 GMT

Liverpool - European champions Liverpool are in danger of losing their inspirational captain Steven Gerrard, according to the midfielder's agent.

Gerrard, who has two years left on his contract, said he wanted to stay at Anfield in the wake of Liverpool's triumph over AC Milan in the Champions League final in May, but talks over a new contract have reportedly broken down and may not reopen.

The midfielder and manager Rafael Benitez reportedly had a falling out on the training ground over the weekend and Gerrard's agent Struan Marshall told the BBC Monday: "Talks have stalled and are unlikely to be re-opened.

Chelsea and Real Madrid are monitoring the situation and could step in with a bid for Gerrard, who's likely to command a transfer fee of around 30 million pounds (53 million dollars).

At a press conference on Monday to announce the signing of Middlesbrough winger Boudewijn Zenden, Benitez upped the ante.

"We want him to stay with us all his life," he said. "We tried last season three times to talk to Steve about a new deal and he said we need to wait.

"This year we have spoken about trophies and we now have the most important one.

"We have talked about improving the squad and having the best players. Now we have signed Zenden, perhaps Middlesbrough's best player.

"We are signing the best keeper in Spain (Jose Reina), the best player in Chile (Mark Gonzales) and a young full-back from Seville (Antonio Barragan).

"We are improving the team. With all these things I can assure our fans my idea is if I renew my contract after four years I would like Steve to be the next coach, the next assistant manager, the next chief scout or, if he wanted, the next manager."

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said money was not a problem.

"For anyone to make an issue of a delay of just a few days makes no sense. When we met on Wednesday, things were fine," Parry said.

"We have wanted to keep Steven all along. There has never been any suggestion we wanted to sell him.

"Money is not an issue. There are no financial concerns regarding Steven's contract so any suggestion to the contrary is wrong."

The situation is likely to be cleared up in the next 10 days, because if Gerrard plays for Liverpool in their Champions League first qualifying round match on July 13, he would then be cup-tied for the rest of the competition if he moved to another club.