Nine days to sort Gerrard's future Jul 4 2005
LIVERPOOL legend Mark Lawrenson expects Steven Gerrard's Anfield future to be resolved prior to next Wednesday's Champions League qualifier with Total Network Solutions.
Gerrard is reportedly resigned to leaving the Reds this summer after becoming increasingly irritated at the club's failure to engage in contract talks. It is rumoured Gerrard and manager Rafael Benitez had a training ground bust-up on Saturday, which led to Gerrard telling his advisors he wants a move.
Lawrenson believes Benitez may be tempted to offload the England star. "If he can get £30million for Steven Gerrard, he could improve the squad, so I guess he is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
Chelsea and Real Madrid are both long-time admirers of the England midfielder, while Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would leap at the chance of bringing Gerrard to Old Trafford in the unlikely event of him signalling a willingness to cross the great north-west divide.
Lawrenson, a member of the all-conquering title-winning squads of the 1980s and now a respected TV pundit, believes Gerrard will eventually end up at Stamford Bridge, but claimed the situation will be sorted out one way or another before the first TNS encounter.
"If Real Madrid and Chelsea are seriously courting Steven Gerrard they will not want him cup-tied for Europe," Lawrenson said.
"Liverpool play TNS next Wednesday and it will have to be resolved one way or another by then."
Gerrard still has two years remaining on his current deal but, in the knowledge that his transfer value will start to plummet quickly once the new campaign begins, Benitez is said to have decided to cash in on his £30million buttet now.
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"Rafa knows he has not got enough good players," said Lawrenson.
"They lost 14 Premiership games last season and at one stage I think he said there were only six players in his squad who he felt were capable of making a decent fist of winning the title.
