by Redrider » Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:16 pm
The Sunday People must be short of headlines so they have created a good one to increase sales on Merseyside :
GERRARD'S EXIT MAYBE REAL NOW Oct 17 2004
By Alan Nixon
STEVEN GERRARD is on his way out of Liverpool - and the skipper could even be sold in the next transfer window.
England ace Gerrard committed himself to the Kop last summer when Chelsea were willing to pay £30million for him, but all is not well with Gerrard and the Anfield club.
Gerrard is out injured but he has told pals that he wonders what the future holds for him under Rafa Benitez and with the signing of Xabi Alonso.
The SP understands that Gerrard feels the Spanish coach may not be convinced about him as a key player and could be prepared to cash in on him. Benitez has bought Alonso to run his midfield and the partnership with Gerrard has hardly had a chance to work, but it is a double act that looks unlikely to be a success.
Gerrard was squeezed out wide on Alonso's debut and, when they played in the middle, the England star was under orders to play a different way.
The Alonso signing was set up at a time when Gerrard seemed sure to move. His U-turn led to the current dilemma. Liverpool may be willing to sell Gerrard to give Benitez money for players - and the big test will come when a concrete offer arrives.
Anfield insiders revealed that Benitez wants to buy two or three more players, with his spies ordered to find the best of British at the moment, but there is not much money left. The Kop would find it hard to refuse a big bid for Gerrard in January, although both Chelsea and Real would prefer an end-of-season transfer. Gerrard's agents SFX are well connected in Madrid after taking the three English 'amigos' to Real - David Beckham, Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate.
The gossip will intensify, the closer we get to the January window. Let's hope ''Rooney starts cracking'' up to give the papers something else to talk about.