Liverpool fear that captain Steven Gerrard’s frustration with
life under Rafael Benitez
will see him leave Anfield this summer if he gets the right
offer.
Gerrard has been a Liverpool player for more than 11 years,
making more than 400 appearances for the club that he almost led to
Barclays Premier League glory a year ago.
But Sportsmail
understands that the Anfield hierarchy are concerned by the lack of
a relationship between the midfielder and manager Benitez and fear
he will look at other options this summer.
With Benitez’s game of bluff and counter-bluff with the
Liverpool board over his future at an impasse, it seems likely that
the Spaniard will still be at the club next season.
Rock bottom: Steven Gerrard's relationship with
Rafael Benitez has eroded
It is feared, however, that this will heighten Gerrard’s sense
of gloom with regard to the future and many people at the club are
thought to feel it unlikely that the next campaign will begin with
both manager and captain on board.
Having missed out on Champions League qualification with a
dismal seventh place League finish this season, Benitez and his
players are aware that there is little money to spend on new
talent, something that is a big worry to Gerrard as he looks to win
the title at his beloved club.
With Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal cemented as the top
three teams in the country and Tottenham and Manchester City ready
to challenge again next season, Gerrard is aware that his chances
of winning the title with Liverpool are remote.
It is understood that he feels Benitez has been given the chance
to take Liverpool
forward but, having failed to build on 2005’s amazing Champions
League win, has not been able to take it.
This is a low: Gerrard has become disillusioned
with life at Liverpool under Benitez - and may consider pastures
new
Benitez and the Liverpool board are aware that star striker
Fernando Torres is wondering whether his career could benefit from
a move, but there is now a feeling that Gerrard is the player more
likely to leave.
The 29-year-old remains frustrated that he has not won a League
title and knows that
time is running out. A move abroad is most likely to tempt him and
Real Madrid will certainly be interested if Jose Mourinho takes
over this summer.
Twice, in 2004 and 2005, Gerrard almost left Liverpool to join
Mourinho at Chelsea
and a move to Spain would be the perfect way out for the Liverpool
skipper.
At home, Manchester City made their own tentative interest but
realise Gerrard will not
go to Eastlands despite not having to uproot his family.
Hero status: Gerrard is surrounded by fans after
the last game of the season at Hull
A fee in excess of £25million for Gerrard would at least give
Benitez room to manoeuvre in the transfer market.
But it is understood that support for Benitez in the dressing
room is far from unanimous.
With Liverpool losing 10 League games last season, there is a
feeling among some players that his tactics have lost direction and
what will surprise many fans is that Torres has reservations about
this, too.
The Spain striker has been a sensation in the three years he has
spent at Anfield and is recognised as one of the best centre
forwards in the world.
However, City and Chelsea have firm interest in him, too, and
the 26-year-old has failed to declare that his future remains on
Merseyside.
Tough times: Torres (left) and Gerrard are two of
Liverpool's superstars
Behind the scenes, tension continues to exist between Benitez
and the Liverpool chief
executive Chrsitian Purslow.
Purslow is aware of the theory that Benitez was trying to
strengthen his own position by allowing interest from Italian club
Juventus to be known as the season reached its underwhelming
climax.
He is also aware of how many important games last season were
prefaced by comments from Benitez about his own position or future
at the club.
With Italian champions Inter Milan the latest club to be linked
with a move for Benitez,
it appears that the furore over his future will not die down.
If he does stay then he will do so knowing that his transfer
budget will be small. This will further frustrate a manager who is
known to feel that he has not had sufficient cash to spend during
his time at Anfield.
Go compare: Inter Milan will tempt Benitez with
cash to spend
Rejected: Juventus saw their offer for Aquilani
declined
Liverpool have rejected a £9.5m offer from Juventus for
midfielder Alberto Aquilani. The club are still unsure about
Aquilani’s role with the squad next season but would want double
that offer to consider selling.
The 25-year-old joined last summer from Roma in a £20m deal and
Benitez would want to recoup that money to strengthen his
squad.
Juventus know Liverpool’s budget is tight and Benitez must
generate cash but a swap deal involving Brazil midfielder Felipe
Melo has also been mooted.
Aquilani’s agent Franco Zavaglia said: ‘It is not easy to bring
him to Juventus. In this season, when he did not have ankle
problems, he has always played and never had any problems with
Benitez. So they won’t part with Aquilani unless they receive very
heavy offers.’
Liverpool may raise cash by selling winger Albert Riera, who is
wanted by German club Stuttgart.
Bradford City’s 14-year-old striker Callum Pilkington is poised
to sign for Liverpool for an undisclosed fee.