Steven Gerrard to MLS: reports that Liverpool legend will announce Anfield exit

THE Rumour Mill is in overdrive in England with reports that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard will announce his Anfield exit in the next 24 hours.

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Steven Gerrard is set to announce his departure from Liverpool in the next 24 hours, according to reports in England .

It is being widely reported that Anfield icon Gerrard, 34, will move to America’s Major League Soccer at the end of the Premier League season.

The Liverpool Echo reports that Gerrard, who has been considering a contract renewal since November, considers the timing is right for a new challenge in his storied career. LA Galaxy, David Beckham’s former club, are favourites, but Sky Sports has New York City, which already has David Villa and Frank Lampard on its books, also in the mix, while The Times says there’s interest from Tim Cahill’s New York Red Bulls. The Daily Express also reports that Middle East clubs will also join the race for the EPL legend.

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Gerrard, with 695 appearances and 180 goals for his boyhood club under his belt, was free to listen to offers from overseas from January 1.

After Liverpool’s stellar 2013-2014 campaign, where the Merseyside club fell agonisingly short of claiming the league title, this term hasn’t quite gone to plan for Brendan Rodgers’s side and the talismanic skipper has found it harder to influence games as he had done previously.

Friday's Daily Mail back page: Gerrard set to quit Liverpool #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #LFC pic.twitter.com/CHFJezaiKD

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) January 1, 2015

Announcement expected tmrw. MLS move likely RT @TonyBarretTimes: Steven Gerrard set to announce he'll leave Liverpool at end of the season.

— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) January 1, 2015

Seems Steven Gerrard is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season. One of the finest players to have graced the PL. A top, top player.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 1, 2015

Friday's Daily Express back page: Gerrard farewell to Kop #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #LFC pic.twitter.com/JOeBfprGvl

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) January 1, 2015

The veteran midfielder, who scored a brace of penalties in his side’s 2-2 draw with Leicester on New Years Day, had been offered a new contract by his EPL club ahead of his current deal expiring at the end of the season, but having not immediately accepted it, rumours started mounting that the former England skipper may not extend his career to an 18th season. The Mirror reports that Liverpool were reluctant to agree to Gerrard’s wage demands and the length of a renewed contract, while the fact that he was no guarantee to play every game has also appeared to weigh on his decision to look abroad.

Gerrard, who first penned a Liverpool deal in 1997, twice opted out of moving to Chelsea and has since said he will not play against the club he has captained for 11 seasons. The Times reports that the timing of this announcement is to ensure speculation over his future does not impact on the second-half of Liverpool’s current campaign.

Former Liverpool teammate Jamie Carragher described Gerrard’s decision as a “sad day”.

“Sad day for Lfc & English football with the Gerrard news, I think it’s the right decision all things considered,” tweeted Carragher who himself made 737 appearances for Liverpool.

He added: “Leaving or retiring is a great confidence booster, this morning my timeline was full of “whys Gerrard starting” now it’s “Gerrard best ever”.

Should he move to MLS, Gerrard will join long time sparring partner Frank Lampard in America - although the New York City recruit will now remain with Manchester City until the end of the EPL campaign, rather than until the end of 2014, having enjoyed a renaissance while on loan waiting for the US soccer season to begin.

OTHER TRANSFER TID BITS:

- Arsene Wenger admits Lukas Podolski could join Inter Milan after the Serie A club came in with a “more serious offer” for the German after a “farcical” opening bid for the 29-year-old.

Wilfried Bony of Swansea.

- Swansea boss Garry Monk says fatigue, not transfer speculation with Manchester City, was behind Wilfried Bony being left on the bench this morning. “It’s speculation, there’s nothing concrete. I think you can see today from when Wilfried came on, he showed his focus for our club and respect to the players and the staff. That was in his performance.To say his mind is elsewhere, is clearly not true, he’s actually very focused on doing well for Swansea.”

- Steve Bruce admits he’s interested in luring Jermain Defoe to Hull City if the former England striker can be lured from Toronto FC. The biggest sticking point remains Defoe’s financial expectations. “If he becomes available, which I believe he is, then we’d love to do something. I think it might be too expensive but it’s not a bad bit of speculation.”

- The Daily Mail says Manchester United will make a call on Radamel Falcao’s future in April, not in January. The striker is on loan from Monaco but United have until the end of the season to decide whether or not to make the move permanent.

- Aston Villa’s Dutch defender Ron Vlaar is linked to Manchester United by The Guardian, although on formal contact has been made.

Originally published as Steven Gerrard to MLS: reports that Liverpool legend will announce Anfield exit