JULY 5
Only Steven Gerrard knows what is really going on...

Comment By Ian Doyle - Daily Post

After lifting the European Cup so gloriously in Istanbul and publicly wondering why he would ever want to leave the club, there was little suggestion Steven Gerrard would be anywhere other than Liverpool come August.

But it has taken the Anfield skipper barely six weeks to find a reason for why he might want to depart.

Gerrard, it seems, is of the belief he is no longer wanted at Liverpool anymore, his mind made up by what he perceives as a lack of urgency on the club's part to discuss the nitty gritty of a new deal, his views coloured by some mischievous misinformation eminating from Spain.

It's rubbish, say Liverpool. We want him to stay, says Rick Parry. And I want him to be the next manager, adds Rafael Benitez.

Who to believe? On the face of it, Liverpool's explanation is fairly straightforward. There were more pressing contractual matters with other players to be sorted, and once they were concluded the focus turned to those who were deserving of an upgraded deal - Gerrard being the first.

After all, Benitez insisted yesterday that the club, despite hardly rolling in money, did not need to cash in on their prized asset.

And having been reticent to sit down at the negotiating table until satisfied Liverpool's ambitions met his own, it shows a startling lack of patience from Gerrard to get in a grump when the club didn't come running at the earliest opportunity. Assuming that's the actual reason for this latest manoeuvring.

Of course, that's to oversimplify what has become a pretty messy situation. Neither side can be totally absolved of blame. And it will take time, should Gerrard stay put, for certain bridges to be rebuilt.

But as conspiracy theories abound - supporters pointing the finger at everyone, from Liverpool to SFX to Real Madrid to the Spanish media - only Gerrard truly knows what is happening. Or what he wants to happen.

Last night's contract offer would make Gerrard by far the highest-paid player in Liverpool's history, yet Chelsea's £32million bid would earn the midfielder a reputed £125,000 a week. Should Real Madrid step in, they'd surpass that.

But this, it would appear, isn't about money. It seems Gerrard will end up where he feels loved the most.

Maybe those 45,000 supporters who spent their hard-earned on watching the lad from Huyton and his team-mates create history at the border of Asia could provide an answer.

JULY 5
Chelsea fail in £32m Gerrard bid

By Phil McNulty - BBC Sport Online

Liverpool will turn down Chelsea's £32m offer for unsettled Steven Gerrard.

Anfield chief executive Rick Parry told BBC Sport Chelsea had made a bid for Liverpool's 25-year-old captain, who has broken off talks on a new contract.

He said: "I can confirm we have had a bid from Chelsea and that it will be rejected by us."

Liverpool have now offered Gerrard a deal worth £100,000-a-week to stay, but are not optimistic he will stay, with Real Madrid also waiting in the wings.

Madrid confirmed their interest on Tuesday in the England star, who has two years left on his current deal at Anfield.

They now appear set for a bidding war with Chelsea for the services of Gerrard, who is thought to be upset that Liverpool did not place a high enough priority on the contract negotiations.

Chelsea's offer was higher than the previous British record buy, which was set at £29.1m when Manchester United bought Rio Ferdinand from Leeds in 2002.

But the feeling in Spain has always been that Gerrard would not leave Liverpool for another English club - which has encouraged Real.

Bernabeu director of football Arrigo Sacchi said on Monday: "Of course we are interested in him, what big club isn't?"

But Sacchi suggested Gerrard would have to hand in a formal transfer request first.

"Until the player makes a move we are not going to be involved in a fight for his services."

Sacchi also rubbished rumours that Real and Chelsea had a deal aimed at keeping the price down for Gerrard.

He said: "We have no agreement with Chelsea. How could we when our clubs are always interested in the same players?"

According to reports, Gerrard currently earns £60,000 per week at Anfield. It is claimed Real will pay him up to £130,000 per week, with Chelsea going no higher than £90,000.

Liverpool open their defence of the Champions League crown with a qualifier against Welsh side TNS on 13 July.

If he plays in that match he would be ineligible to turn out for any other side in the competition.

JULY 5
Chelsea offer Gerrard way out

By Oliver Kay - The Times

In the manner of a jilted husband, Liverpool pledged to do whatever it took to win back a disaffected Steven Gerrard, but with Chelsea ready to pay £32 million it appeared to be too little too late.

Even if he is offered a renewal of vows, a contract worth £90,000 a week and a promise that he will never again be taken for granted, it seems that West London is the 25-year-old’s most likely destination.

Chelsea refused to deny that they had made a massive bid last night and 48 hours after telling Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, that he was calling off contract talks in dismay at the club’s casual approach to negotiations, Gerrard seemed unwilling to rebuild the bridges that have been burnt over the past few weeks. Benítez made an impassioned plea at a press conference yesterday afternoon, but Gerrard’s mind, it appears, is made up, his relationship with his home-town club apparently damaged beyond repair.

Benítez and Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, seemed incredulous that it had come to this. Word from the Gerrard camp is that the club are to blame for dragging their feet over arranging talks with regard to a new deal, but Benítez and Parry protested, saying it “makes no sense” to talk of a lack of urgency on their part after they had waited five months for Gerrard to bring himself to the negotiating table.

“I don’t like to talk about this,” Benítez said in a press conference that was intended to focus on Boudewijn Zenden’s arrival on a free transfer from Middlesbrough. “But I will say that we tried three times last season to talk to Steve about a new deal and he always said, ‘We need to wait, we need to wait.’

“This year we have been talking about (needing) to win trophies. Well, we have won the most important trophy, the European Cup. We have been talking about improving the team and the squad. Well, we have signed (José Manuel) Reina, the best goalkeeper in Spain, Mark González, the best player in Chile, and we have agreed a deal with Seville to sign Antonio Barragan, a very good young full back, so yes, I think we are improving the team and the squad and I can assure the fans that we want Steven Gerrard to stay with us.”

With that, Benítez suggested that Gerrard could be anything that he wants to be at Anfield: “chief scout, assistant manager, even manager if I leave — we want him to stay here for all his career”. But those remarks, however well intended, were not taken seriously by the player or his advisers, for whom the damage has been done.

The expectation is that offers will roll in for Gerrard over the coming days, with Arsenal threatening to join Real Madrid and Chelsea in a bidding war, with Liverpool likely to sell unless they can succeed in bringing their headstrong young captain back from the brink. Questions have been asked about Benítez’s desire to keep the player, as opposed to selling him to raise at least £30 million to strengthen the squad, but Parry fought the manager’s corner yesterday.

“Rafa wants Stevie to stay and couldn’t have made that any clearer,” Parry said. “We are completely surprised by the report this morning, having made it clear since January that we wanted to talk to Stevie about a new contract. For anyone to make issue of a delay of just a few days makes no sense. When we met on Wednesday, things were fine. We have wanted to keep Stevie all along and there have never been any suggestions we wanted to sell him. Money is not an issue. There are no financial concerns regarding the contract, and any suggestion to the contrary is wrong.”

Benítez and Parry were hoping to hold an emergency meeting with Gerrard last night with the manager suggesting that a formal contract offer would belatedly be made. “We will try to do the things that we must do,” Benítez said. The suspicion is, though, that Liverpool will need to fight back as spectacularly as they did against AC Milan in the European Cup final if they are to win this battle. And this time, perhaps crucially, they do not have Gerrard on their side.

JULY 4
Rafa: I want Gerrard to stay

Kop Talk

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez today insisted that he wants to keep hold of Steven Gerrard.

A media campaign led by SFX suggests otherwise with claims that Liverpool are actually trying to force the player out but the manager denies these allegations.

Speaking this afternoon, Rafa said: "I can assure our fans that we want Steven Gerrard to stay with us.

"I renew my deal with Liverpool in four or five years and when I do I would like Stevie to be my next coach, the assistant manager and maybe even the next manager after me. He can even have the chief scout position if he wants it.

"I want him to stay with the club. We are trying to build a better team and a better squad and I want Stevie to be a major part of that.

"Last season I tried to get Stevie to sign a new deal three times. On each occasion he said wait, so we waited.

"This year we want to win more trophies and that is why we are improving our squad with new signings."

JULY 4
We can fix it - Reds' plea to Gerrard

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

Liverpool insist they will fight to keep Steven Gerrard as crisis talks began today to revive contract negotiations with the skipper.

Gerrard's representatives pulled out of discussions over a lucrative new four-year deal claiming the Reds have delayed too long because they're trying to engineer his departure.

Those accusations were today strongly denied by Liverpool officials who still hope the damage of a weekend of chaos is repairable.

Gerrard arrived at Melwood to face manager Rafa Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry this morning amid growing concerns he's ready to quit Anfield.

Today's meeting looks sure to decide the future of the captain, but Parry remains optimistic face-to-face discussions can resolve the baffling deadlock between a player who wants to stay and a club who insist they want to keep him.

"Rafa wants Stevie to stay and couldn't have made it any clearer. We still hope this situation is repairable," said Parry as he headed to Melwood today.

"We're completely surprised by the reports this morning having made it clear since January we wanted to talk to Steven about a new contract. 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.

"We have wanted to keep Steven all along. There's 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."

Manager Benitez is understood to be furious at accusations he's engineered a possible transfer.

He and Gerrard were involved in private discussions on Saturday, but reports of a 'blazing training ground row' have angered the manager.

Liverpool may yet decide to keep Gerrard, even if Chelsea and Real Madrid make their expected approach over the next few days.

The 25-year-old has two years left on his contract.

However, the most likely outcome is the sale of the captain, destroying the feel-good factor of the extraordinary Champions League win six weeks ago.

Liverpool were expected to parade new signing Bolo Zenden today, but the Press conference may now be delayed until later this week.

JULY 4
Skipper had wanted talks straight after final triumph

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

Steven Gerrard's last match for Liverpool may prove to be the Champions League final, but a political game is now being played to rival the epic battle in Istanbul.

Amid a series of claims and counter-claims, contract negotiations have been called to a halt by the Liverpool skipper.

The captain suspects moves have been put in motion to engineer his sale and make him look responsible, despite his public declaration to stay.

His patience snapped last night and he called the whole thing off - a move sure to trigger bids from Chelsea and Real Madrid. The Gerrard camp believe the £35m cash injection for his signature is what Liverpool wanted all along.

Absolutely not, say Anfield officials. Rather than privately welcome the news, Liverpool reacted with a combined sense of horror and bemusement. They're adamant they want their skipper to stay, insist they will try to revive talks and believe the captain has been mis-informed about the club's intentions.

An alternative conspiracy theory blames the Real Madrid propaganda machine for cleverly manufacturing this crisis, convincing SFX their client is being victimised by those who want him out of Anfield in order to allow Rafa Benitez to fund squad rebuilding.

Unless heads are banged together quickly, ACAS or the United Nations peace envoy passes the Melwood training ground, Liverpool will lose their captain. It may already be too late.

What's beyond question is the breakdown has been triggered by a single factor. Rightly or wrongly, Gerrard doesn't feel the club want him any more.

He identified a lack of will to find a quick resolution to his future after victory in Istanbul. This was perceived by some as a telling insight into Liverpool's shift in attitude towards the captain compared to a year ago.

When Gerrard offered a ray of hope he would reject Chelsea after Euro 2004, the Press conference was arranged with the click of a finger, ensuring he wouldn't change his mind.

A similar opportunity to tie the skipper down was presented on a golden platter after his post-match comments in Turkey. This time, everyone went on holiday.

According to Liverpool, this reflected the trust and confidence between player and club. There was nothing to worry about and no hurry. Gerrard, lest we forget, has two years left on his contract.

With the captain publicly declaring his intention to stay at Anfield, his manager repeating his desire to build a team around him, and the chief executive stating a world record bid from Chelsea or Real Madrid would be rejected, it was expected talks would be straightforward.

Rather than organise an immediate summit, Liverpool prioritised the futures of the 'Bosmans' Didi Hamann, Vladimir Smicer and Igor Biscan on the club's return from Turkey, holding contract talks which extended or ended those players' association with the club on Friday, May 27.

Gerrard was told to wait until pre-season training before the much-hyped 'sitting down and talking after the European Cup Final' proceeded.

The first meeting took place last Wednesday, June 29.

No offer was on the table. This astonished the Gerrard camp, but Liverpool say this is usual at the start of the negotiation process. Gerrard's agent, Struan Marshall, was asked what he wanted for his man and the club would return later.

Gerrard's representatives' proposals include a salary increase which would make him the club's highest paid player, although the figures are nothing in comparison to those he rejected from Chelsea a year ago.

Liverpool officials agree money is not a stumbling block and they're confident they could meet the terms, even if certain clauses would require further negotiation.

The meeting ended amicably and it was only when reports filtered out from Spain the divisions emerged.

Both Marshall and Gerrard were at the wrong end of misinformation as Spanish daily AS claimed talks went badly and said the player told Benitez he was attracted by the prospect of joining Real Madrid.

Whatever motivated the erroneous article, it inflicted the damage it intended, with SFX accusing Liverpool of briefing Spanish journalists.

After a showdown with an astonished Benitez, SFX responded on behalf of themselves and their player in the Sunday press. Neither party now trusts the other.

After waiting four days for Liverpool's response to his proposals, Gerrard told the club to forget it, paving the way for another summer of speculation.

Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry are stunned. With a Champions League qualifier just over a week away, the pre-season has been plunged into disarray.

The Liverpool boss is now faced with an agonising choice.

He could still keep Gerrard, knowing his value will diminish as the final two years of his contract expire.

Alternatively, he can sell the skipper and begin the process of landing those stars at the top of his original transfer wish- list, assembled last season when he believed his skipper was sure to leave.

Some may feel the greater good will be served by selling one player, backing Benitez to recruit three world class replacements.

Others will argue the sale of the captain and club icon, no matter what the circumstances, is an act of football vandalism so soon after European Cup success.

A year ago, Gerrard was considering leaving, but the club put him under enough pressure to change his mind.

This summer, the captain was determined to stay but a combination of factors have convinced him he's not wanted.

Liverpool insist those factors are a figment of someone's imagination and they're desperate to keep him.

Usually, where there's a will, there's a way. Steven Gerrard's seemingly imminent departure looks set to prove the exception.

JULY 4
Where will Steven Gerrard go?

By Andrew McKenzie - BBC Sport Online

Steven Gerrard's long association with Liverpool looks set to end this summer.

The Reds skipper looks to have run out of patience with Liverpool and has ended talks over a new contract with the club.

There have also been newspaper reports of a training-ground bust-up with manager Rafael Benitez.

If the 25-year-old is to leave his beloved Anfield it is likely there will be no shortage of suitors for a player of Gerrard's standing.

Here BBC Sport looks at the possible clubs involved.

REAL MADRID
If Gerrard does leave Anfield it appears that the Bernabeu would be the most likely destination.

Some friendly faces would be there to greet him in the form of England team-mates Michael Owen, David Beckham and Jonathan Woodgate.

According to reports Owen has already given Gerrard the lowdown on how great a club Madrid is.

The Spanish giants have brought in a superstar each year for the last five summers and Spanish newspaper As is sure that this year it will be Gerrard's turn.

Money would not be a problem for a club who have shown in the past they are not afraid of breaking the bank to get their man.

Gerrard would provide some much-needed steel to Madrid's fragile midfield.


CHELSEA
Gerrard's move to Stamford Bridge appeared a certainty last summer, but a late change of heart saw the Reds skipper remain at Anfield.

Chelsea are already well stocked in midfield with Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele.

But the thought of adding Gerrard to that mix would be a mouthwatering one for Blues fans.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is looking for a central midfielder, although he seems to have earmarked Lyon's Michael Essien for that role.

Spanish newspaper As also claimed Gerrard would not move to one of Liverpool's Premiership rivals.

But Chelsea would almost certainly be a bidder should Gerrard become available and when it comes to financial muscle they can compete with any club.


AC MILAN
Milan saw at first hand how dangerous a player Gerrard can be in the Champions League final back in May.

The Italians' midfield, so dominant in the first half against Liverpool, looked tired after the break as Gerrard drove the Reds forward.

Ahead of the final, Milan boss Carlos Ancelotti said they would be interested if Gerrard was to become available this summer.

Ancelotti said: "He is undoubtedly one of the best midfield players in the world."

But it is thought Gerrard would be less keen on a move to Serie A than La Liga.


LIVERPOOL
There is still a possibility that Gerrard could remain at Anfield.

He is under contract for a further two years and Liverpool would surely be reluctant to allow their captain to leave without a fight.

Gerrard was inspiration in their Champions League triumph and it would be a big task for the club to find a replacement, no matter how much money they were to get for him.


OTHERS
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has never hid his admiration of Gerrard.

Last year he likened Gerrard to his skipper Roy Keane and said he would be the perfect replacement when the Irishman retires, even ahead of Arsenal and France midfielder Patrick Vieira.

Ferguson added: "He has become the most influential player in England, bar none. Not that Vieira lacks anything, but Gerrard does more."

But Liverpool would be reluctant to sell their star player to one of their bitter rivals.

Gerrard has talked about wanting to play alongside the best and the thought of lining up behind Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o for Spanish giants Barcelona would appeal to anyone.

But the La Liga champions already have a talented midfield with summer signing of Mark van Bommell added to last season's star players Ludovic Giuly and Deco.

Arsenal would have to be considered rank outsiders if Gerrard was to become available.

The prospect of teaming him up with Vieira in the centre of midfield would be an enticing one, but the Gunners are unlikely to be able to compete financially with the cream of Europe.

JULY 4
Agent: Gerrard talks stalled

Ananova

Steven Gerrard's agent has admitted that contract discussions with Liverpool have "stalled and are unlikely to be reopened", according to Sky Sports News.

The England midfielder's future has been the subject of intense speculation with several newspapers this morning claiming he will leave Anfield despite winning the Champions League last season.

And, although Gerrard still has two years left to run on his current deal, that possibility looks increasingly likely after Gerrard's agent Struan Marshall told Sky Sports news: "Talks with Liverpool have stalled and are unlikely to be reopened."

The 25-year-old is reportedly resigned to leaving the Reds this summer after becoming increasingly irritated at the club's failure to engage in contract talks.

After declaring his intention to stay at Anfield in the immediate aftermath of his side's stunning Champions League triumph over AC Milan in Istanbul six weeks ago, he now feels manager Rafael Benitez wants him out.

It is rumoured the pair had a training ground bust-up on Saturday, which led to Gerrard telling his advisors he wants a move.

Chelsea and Real Madrid are both long-time admirers of the England midfielder, while Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would leap at the chance of bringing Gerrard to Old Trafford in the unlikely event of him signalling a willingness to cross the great north-west divide.

JULY 4
Doubts raised over Gerrard future

BBC Sporting Life

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard may have played his last game for the Champions League winners following allegations of a training-ground row.

Newspaper reports have claimed that the England midfielder, 25, had an angry exchange with boss Rafael Benitez.

He has two years of his current deal to run but it has been rumoured that he is unhappy because the Reds did not open talks as quickly as he had hoped.

However, Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton said: "We want Gerrard to stay."

According to The Sun, Gerrard has received no improved pay offer from Liverpool and no more talks are planned.

The Daily Mirror reports Gerrard has broken off all contract talks and will make a £35m exit after an "angry exchange" between the player and his manager at Melwood training ground.

Chelsea will now launch a British transfer record bid in excess of £30m for Gerrard, according to the Daily Star, while the Daily Express report his patience snapped as the Anfield club dragged their feet over a new deal.

The Daily Mail also say Gerrard's long association with Liverpool is drawing to a close and that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been alerted.

Gerrard underlined his enthusiasm to stay at Anfield in the aftermath of Liverpool's European triumph over AC Milan in May.

He described lifting the trophy as "the best feeling ever" and when questioned about his future added: "How can I think of leaving Liverpool after a night like this?"

The Merseysider assumed negotiations over a new contract would be high on Liverpool's list of priorities.

But Gerrard is said to be disappointed that the issue has not been resolved - only nine days away from the start of their Champions League defence against Welsh minnows Total Network Solutions.

Last week Spanish reports claimed that Gerrard had admitted to Benitez his interest in a move to Real Madrid, who are said to be willing to more than double his wages to over £8m a year.

Gerrard did not hint at Real deal

The report in As newspaper also said that Gerrard would not join another Premiership side.

That is unlikely to put off Chelsea, who are also known admirers of Gerrard and were thought to be close to signing him last season.

Although his contract has two years to run, Liverpool will be aware that his market value would fall if he remained at Anfield without signing a new deal.

AC Milan may also be interested in Gerrard, while Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a big fan of the player.

If Gerrard plays in the qualifying round tie against TNS, it would cup-tie him and prevent him playing for another club in this year's competition.

Thor Zakariassen ©