Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admitted that he could leave in the summer as his contract runs down after the current season ends. It’s up to Liverpool to decide whether they want to keep the long serving Liverpool skipper or not. Gerrard also revealed that he’ll carry on playing even if the club doesn’t offer him a new contract, “I won’t be retiring this summer. I will play beyond this season. We will have to wait and see if that’s at Liverpool or somewhere else. That’s Liverpool’s decision.”
At 34, the retired England international isn’t the same anymore, but is still a central figure in his team as his influence hasn’t diminished at all. Manager Brendan Rodgers has said in the past that he would love to keep hold of the player, but contract talks still haven’t started which is a bit of a surprise to everyone connected with the club.
Nevertheless, Gerrard’s comments on the contract situation have already triggered a response from Liverpool as they were set to open talks after the game against Newcastle today. The Irish Independent reported that the club have apparently met Gerrard’s agent in order to nail down a contract extension. A club source told them, “It had always been the club’s plan to sign up Steven, but given his comments yesterday that deal will be done immediately.” The Liverpool academy graduate was linked with moves to Chelsea and Real Madrid in the past but decided to stay put at the club.
Brendan Rodgers signed Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer as a long term replacement for Gerrard and the German has looked decent until now despite a succession of injuries. Gerrard will turn 35 in the coming summer and might still have a season of competitive football left in him. He has looked really fit so far and has appeared in every Premier league game till now which in itself a hint that he is still up for it.