Fed up: Steven Gerrard's relationship with Rafa Benitez is said to have deteriorated

Fed up: Steven Gerrard's relationship with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is said to have deteriorated


Real Madrid are working on a deal that would give Steven Gerrard a route out of Liverpool.

The Anfield hierarchy fear that their captain's frustration with life under boss Rafa Benitez will see him leave if the right offer comes in.

Jose Mourinho is ready to take advantage by sanctioning a £25million move when he takes over at the Bernabeu next week.

Gerrard is on a short list of two to add energy and creativity to a midfield that hardly bore comparison to that of La Liga champions Barcelona this season.

Reports in Spain say the other player in their sights is Roma captain Daniele de Rossi, but the Italy international would cost in excess of £40m and has previously been reluctant to leave his hometown team.

Mourinho, who is set to quit Inter Milan for Madrid after Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich, would also like to team up again with Frank Lampard.

However, doing a deal with Chelsea is fraught with difficulty and Blues chairman Bruce Buck has reiterated this week that the England man is not for sale.

Gerrard is the target most vulnerable to approach and the 29-year-old remains frustrated that he has not won a League title.

Manchester City made their own tentative interest but realise Gerrard will not go to Eastlands despite not having to uproot his family.

Making way: Lassana (left) or Mahamadou Diarra (right) could leave the Bernabeu to free up space fro Gerrard's arrival
Making way: Lassana (left) or Mahamadou Diarra (right) could leave the Bernabeu to free up space fro Gerrard's arrival

Making way: Lassana (left) or Mahamadou Diarra (right) could leave the Bernabeu to free up space for Gerrard's arrival... once Jose Mourinho takes charge

Even if Mourinho's move to the Bernabeu does collapse, he would be interested in taking Gerrard to Inter.

But the self-styled 'Special One' looks a shoo-in for the Bernabeu hot seat and reports in Spain say he is close to agreeing fine details of a three-year contract worth £170,000 a week.


Inter Milan have conceded they will lose their boss, despite offering him £200,000 a week, a difference of £4.5m more over the three years of his Spain stay.

To make way for Gerrard, Madrid could offload Manchester City target Fernando Gago or either Mahamadou or Lassa Diarra, who have both been linked to Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Madrid newspaper Marca claims that Real were offered Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Barcelona, despite the Catalans publicly declaring their Sweden striker would stay at the Nou Camp. Madrid are said to have swiftly declined.