[lfc-news] Stevie talks face delay - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 6 June 2005
Stevie talks face delay
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

TALKS to resolve the future of Steven Gerrard are unlikely to start
before Liverpool return to pre-season training on June 27.

Gerrard declared his intention to stay at Anfield in the aftermath of
the Champions League triumph, but so far there's no meeting scheduled to
discuss next year's plans.

A variety of circumstances have contributed to the delay.

Chief executive Rick Parry flew out to Barbados on pre-arranged club
business 48 hours after the victory in Turkey.

Manager Rafa Benitez returned to Merseyside over the weekend having
spent last week in Madrid, while Gerrard has also been enjoying a
well-earned break following an arduous season.

His representative from agency SFX, Struan Marshall, got married the
weekend after Liverpool's European Cup win, making it impossible for all
parties to get together amid the euphoria of Istanbul.

At the moment it remains unclear if the club will attempt to bring the
matter to a close before Gerrard returns to Melwood at the end of the month.

One might have presumed an immediate resolution would have been sought.
However, the lack of urgency to put the saga to bed appears more a
consequence of circumstance than any suspicious factor.

Yesterday saw the first 'Gerrard to leave' story printed since the
European Cup success - a situation every Liverpool fan must have hoped
would finally end after the win over AC Milan.

But Benitez knows speculation will continue until Gerrard pens a new
deal. He currently has two years left on his contract. If an agreement
isn't struck this summer, he edges closer to the danger zone.

Liverpool can't allow the captain to get within one year of a Bosman or
they'll receive nowhere near the £35m he'd currently command.

Benitez was planning for next season with two potential budgets. The
first, which presumes Gerrard will stay, provides a transfer kitty of
around £30m.

However, a contingency plan in the event of the captain moving on,
handing Benitez around £60m.

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