Steven Gerrard contract update: Liverpool captain facing a reduced role…
Steven Gerrard faces a fight to secure his Liverpool future, after being dropped to the substitutes bench for Saturday’s 1-0 win over Stoke City, a match which marked the 16-year anniversary of his first-team debut.
The Reds skipper, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is eligible to sign for a foreign club in just four weeks time, as pre-contractual rules come into effect.
Reports in the Daily Mirror claim that a new offer – as expected – is on the table, but is believed to be worth substantially less than his current £170,000 a week deal, as the Anfield owners seek to reduce the club’s wage bill after a heavy summer of spending.
According to the paper, sources close to Gerrard believe he might be thinking the unthinkable – finishing his playing days away from Anfield – news that will come as a huge blow to his teammates, who still look to him as a source of inspiration.
Gerrard’s desire to leave could even be increased, following the latest comments from boss Brendan Rodgers, who believes that the 34-year-old midfielder’s time on the pitch needs to be managed, and his workload reduced.
Rodgers said: “Always now he and I will look at when he can play and when he can’t. He is a wonderful man and he is very much about the team.
“Every player would love to play every minute of every game, but the reality is that at this level, how competitive it is and with the squad we have got here, we cannot be just relying on him in every single game.
“I need to look at each game and the balance with the players and team to get the results. Stevie is at the moment of his career where he won’t play every game and every minute of every game.”