07-05-2005, 10:12 AM
Tue 05 Jul, 323 PM
LONDON (AFP) - England midfielder Steven Gerrard told Liverpool that he wants to leave the club, sparking a probable bidding war between Chelsea and Real Madrid.
A statement on the Champions League winners' website said "The club has made it crystal clear we want to keep Steven at Anfield.
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"Sadly, he has told us this afternoon that he will not accept our offer of an improved and extended contract because he wants to leave Liverpool.
"We very much regret the decision he has taken."
The Liverpool Echo claims Gerrard turned down the offer of a four-year-deal at Anfield, and chief executive Rick Parry told the newspaper "We desperately want to keep Stevie and we've told him we don't want him to leave.
"However, in rejecting our offer of a new contract he has indicated he wants to go."
Liverpool earlier rejected a staggering 32 million pound (56 million dollar) bid from Chelsea for Gerrard.
"I can confirm we have had a bid from Chelsea and that it will be rejected by us," Parry told BBC Sport.
Liverpool directors were trying to convince Gerrard, who has two years of his Anfield contract still to run, to stay despite Gerrard's agent Struan Marshall insisting that contract talks had broken off.
Parry claimed "money is not an issue".
Chelsea's offer would have eclipsed the 29.1 million pounds Manchester United paid Leeds to secure the services of Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United three years ago.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who hoped the bid would beat anything Real Madrid could offer, was expected to go back with a bigger offer.
He knows Liverpool would rather sell Gerrard to Madrid than to a Premiership rival.
But Real Madrid director of coaching Arrigo Sacchi told The Sun "Of course we are interested in him, what big club isn't? But until the player makes a move we are not going to be involved in a fight for his services."
Liverpool were reported to have offered Gerrard 100,000 pounds a week - a 20,000 pound a week raise.
But if he moves to Chelsea he will get less as Mourinho has said he will not give anyone more than Frank Lampard who is the club's highest earner at 90,000 pounds a week.
LONDON (AFP) - England midfielder Steven Gerrard told Liverpool that he wants to leave the club, sparking a probable bidding war between Chelsea and Real Madrid.
A statement on the Champions League winners' website said "The club has made it crystal clear we want to keep Steven at Anfield.
Advertisement
"Sadly, he has told us this afternoon that he will not accept our offer of an improved and extended contract because he wants to leave Liverpool.
"We very much regret the decision he has taken."
The Liverpool Echo claims Gerrard turned down the offer of a four-year-deal at Anfield, and chief executive Rick Parry told the newspaper "We desperately want to keep Stevie and we've told him we don't want him to leave.
"However, in rejecting our offer of a new contract he has indicated he wants to go."
Liverpool earlier rejected a staggering 32 million pound (56 million dollar) bid from Chelsea for Gerrard.
"I can confirm we have had a bid from Chelsea and that it will be rejected by us," Parry told BBC Sport.
Liverpool directors were trying to convince Gerrard, who has two years of his Anfield contract still to run, to stay despite Gerrard's agent Struan Marshall insisting that contract talks had broken off.
Parry claimed "money is not an issue".
Chelsea's offer would have eclipsed the 29.1 million pounds Manchester United paid Leeds to secure the services of Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United three years ago.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who hoped the bid would beat anything Real Madrid could offer, was expected to go back with a bigger offer.
He knows Liverpool would rather sell Gerrard to Madrid than to a Premiership rival.
But Real Madrid director of coaching Arrigo Sacchi told The Sun "Of course we are interested in him, what big club isn't? But until the player makes a move we are not going to be involved in a fight for his services."
Liverpool were reported to have offered Gerrard 100,000 pounds a week - a 20,000 pound a week raise.
But if he moves to Chelsea he will get less as Mourinho has said he will not give anyone more than Frank Lampard who is the club's highest earner at 90,000 pounds a week.