Gerrard to Madrid?

[Byronic]

Okay, okay, we have been hearing this for some time and it's getting a little tiresome, but, just when you think it is all over, and that Steven Gerrard is happy to dedicate the next few years to his hometown club, the papers are full of 'complications' in his contract negotiations with Liverpool, and Madrid are back in the hunt; even the wolf-like ears of Chelsea have pricked up again and are sensing a kill.

Oh, I love mindless, usually factless, tabloid transfer gossip (it's all we have to live on in the close season) but could there actually be something in this story?

Other rumours: Michael Owen to Manchester United (can't see it myself) Fernando Torres to Arsenal, and what about Willy Sagnol from Bayern Munich to Arsenal?

Meanwhile, they still can't prize Jerzy Dudek from the 'This Is Anfield' sign......

[Byronic]

1. Looks like he IS off!

All the papers are full of it today, and Sky Sports are quoting Gerrard's agent as saying talks have broken down and are unlikely to be re-started.

Apparently Gerrard has had a 'bust-up' with Benitez during training at Melwood, and he now wants to leave. Quotes of £35 million are floating around.

I just have a gut feeling that Gerrard is off to Madrid with, perhaps, little Mickey Owen heading back to Anfield, as part of the deal.

But, then again, I am practically ALWAYS wrong....

Still, what bad news for Liverpool fans: Stevie G leaving, there will have to be quite a bit of rebuilding to be down, but a fit and stronger Xabi Alonso would fill Gerrard's place, with possibly Aimar arriving to bolster the midfield. It's more Spanish than Scouse at Anfield now.

[Byronic]

2. Chelsea bid £32 million

says a report last night. Benitez wants "Gerrard to stay for life", Rick Parry still has "hope" he will stay. Real Madrid admit interest.

In better news for Liverpool, Bolo Zenden signs from Middlesbrough, Reina confirms move from Villareal, and the club sign the Chilean international Mark Gonzalez.

[Vladimir]

3. If LFC lose Gerrard, it may be a blessing in disguise

look at our (Arsenal) last season - we expended so much energy trying to convice Vieira to stay, he started the season still in two minds about the whole thing, and since our whole gameplan revolves around him we crashed very badly after the Old Trafford game. Maybe if we had sold him, and bought someone who was 100% comittted with the money, we could have avoided some of that. I know that sort of thing sends the wrong message about the club' ambitions, and we didn't have that bad a season, but sometimes its better to let a player move on IMO if their heart ain't in it anymore...

On the other hand, I could just be talking bollocks. :shrug:

[Byronic]

4. I agree

the whole saga has dragged on long enough. If I hear one more story about Gerrard having the "worst six months of my life" I think I will scream. Liverpool are bigger than just one player. Gerrard obviously wants away, and the favourites to land him this morning appear to be Chelsea. (who DON'T they want to buy!)

Anyway, this is quite a Liverpool tradition after a European Cup victory. Keegan left for Hamburg in 1977; Clemence left for Spurs in 1981; and Souness left for Sampdoria in 1984, and, oddly, and against some predictions, the sky didn't fall on the Kop, and life continued...

[Vladimir]

5. And now he said he is staying!

and tomorrow... who knows?