Liverpool turning down Chelsea bid for Gerrard
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-06 10:29

Steven Gerrard has told Champions League winner Liverpool he wants to leave the club.

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is shown talking to the media at a news conference at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England, in this May 19, 2005 file photo. [Reuters]

Though it has received no official transfer request, the team said Tuesday in a statement that the captain will not stay with the team.

"This has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make," Gerrard said in a statement to Sky Television. "I fully intended to sign a new contract after the Champions League final, but the events of the past five to six weeks have changed all that."

Liverpool acknowledged Tuesday that Gerrard was leaving.

"The club has made it crystal clear we want to keep Steven at Anfield," Liverpool said. "Sadly, he has told us this afternoon that he will not accept our offer of an improved and extended contract because he wants to leave Liverpool.

"We very much regret the decision he has taken."

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said Tuesday the club had turned down a bid from Chelsea to buy the England midfielder.

Chelsea's bid is reported to be worth 32 million pounds (US$56 million; ?3 million). Real Madrid has also said it will make a bid for the 25-year-old midfielder.

The transfer could set a British record, topping the 29.1 million pounds (US$51 million; ?3 million) that Manchester United paid Leeds in 2002 for England defender Rio Ferdinand.

The England international was reportedly seeking a weekly pay boost from 80,000 pounds (US$140,000; ?20,000) to 100,000 pounds (US$175,000; ?50,000).

Coach Rafa Benitez on Monday issued a plea for Gerrard to stay with his hometown club.

"I can assure our fans that we want Steve to stay with us," Benitez said. "After four more years, I would like Steve to be the next assistant coach, the next assistant manager, the next chief scout if he wants - or the next manager if I go.

"We want Steve to say with us all his life."

Liverpool, which won the Champions League six weeks ago against AC Milan, hopes to settle Gerrard's status before it faces Welsh club TNS in a Champions League first-round qualifier on July 13.

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