Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard could go public with his intention to leave Anfield as soon as Friday, and a number of Major League Soccer teams appear ready to pounce.
That’s according to a number of reports that emanating from England on New Year’s Day saying that Gerrard – the iconic 34-year-old midfielder who has played for Liverpool since 1998 and spurned interest from other clubs repeatedly in the past – has informed the club he will not sign a new contract at the end of the season.
Gerrard is expected to issue a statement on Friday morning in England saying that this season will his be his last with the club, and he will use the coming months to decide on what the future holds.
Liverpool have already offered their captain a new contract beyond this season, but Gerrard has declined to accept.
Gerrard’s name has been linked to a number of MLS teams in recent months – Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls chief among them – but the Daily Mail reported on Thursday that the defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy are the frontrunners to bring Gerrard on board this summer.
Italian journalist Gianluca DiMarzio also reported the Galaxy are interested, indicating that the club has already made an offer.
The Galaxy will have one Designated Player spot available in 2015 after the departure of club legend Landon Donovan at the end of last season. Donovan piloted the Galaxy to their third league title in four years in December.
Gerrard, of course, would add more championship pedigree to the Galaxy if he were to make a move to LA. Although he’s famously never won an English Premier League title with Liverpool – he’s finished runner-up with the Reds three times - he did win a UEFA Champions League crown with the club in 2004-05 and he’s won a pair of FA Cups (2000-01, 2005-06).
Gerrard has scored five goals in 19 appearances for Liverpool this season, including two from the penalty spot in the team’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City on Thursday.
Gerrard retired from international football following the World Cup last summer in Brazil, when he served as the team’s captain for the first two games of the group stage. He scored 21 goals in 114 career appearances for England after making his international debut in 2000.
