New York Red Bulls are targeting Steven Gerrard as their star signing should he fail to agree a new deal to stay at Liverpool.
The ambitious Major League Soccer club have included Gerrard on their ‘discovery list’ – a list of future, possible acquisitions – and are hoping to take advantage of the 34-year-old midfielder’s strong relationship with their sporting director Gérard Houllier.
The inclusion on the ‘discovery list’ already means that should Gerrard leave Liverpool and want to play in the United States then the Red Bulls would have first call on him ahead of other American clubs.
Gerrard’s deal at Anfield runs out at the end of this season and although an offer to him has finally been made the Liverpool captain is considering his options and contemplating whether this will be his last season with the club.
Gerrard, who will be expected to lead Liverpool out on Sunday against Manchester United at Old Trafford, has no intention of retiring and nor will be play for another Premier League side.
It means that should he leave then he will look for a club in Europe involved in Champions League football – and should receive offers – or may even be lured by the prospect of moving to America for a couple of years.
New York would be the ideal destination if he chooses to do that – Gerrard was impressed when Liverpool travelled and played there during a pre-season tour – and the Red Bulls are keen to make a strong statement with Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill, their two foreign stars, set to leave.
Given the push being made by New York City, the new club set up by Manchester City’s owners, who have signed up Frank Lampard and David Villa, then the Red Bulls know they must respond. Given their option they know they could stop any attempt by New York City to sign Gerrard.
Houllier was Liverpool’s manager for six years between 1998-2004 and awarded Gerrard the club’s captaincy when the player was just 22. The Frenchman has maintained a friendship with Gerrard and attended his testimonial at Anfield last year.
Houllier is Red Bulls’ international sporting director for football, which also takes in responsibility for Salzburg and Leipzig, and would want to attract Gerrard to New York should be leave Liverpool.
Although, under MLS rules, a club does not need the agreement of the player to include them on the list, the club does have to be genuine and bona fide in its interest. At the same time it is unusual to include such a high-profile player as Gerrard, who is yet to decide his future and has not given any indication he wants to join them.
In theory Gerrard could sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club in January but that is unlikely to happen. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has stated his desire to keep Gerrard and a contract extension offer is now on the table although there has been some surprise as to how long it has taken. It still appears inconceivable that Gerrard could leave but it does also appear that he has a serious decision to make.
Gerrard, who retired from international football after the World Cup to concentrate on his club career, is considering the offer but the bigger question for him is the role he will play for Liverpool if he stays.
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