Ian Ayre, Liverpool’s chief executive has insisted that Liverpool made a “substantial” contract offer to Steven Gerrard, but cites playing time as the main reason behind the captain’s decision to move stateside and join MLS team, LA Galaxy.
Gerrard, in an interview with the Liverpool ECHO earlier this month, said that he made the decision to leave following conversations with Brendan Rodgers, where he was informed that his game time would be reduced.
Ian Ayre, speaking in a recent interview with 105.9fm Citytalk’s John Keith, concurs with that statement and goes on to say that he believes the situation would have been the same had Gerrard signed a contract in the summer.
Ayre said: “Who knows how it would have played out? But I think Steven made the point last week that it [not playing every week] doesn’t appeal to him.”
“So the fact that he would have signed a contract last season actually doesn’t make any difference. His point was that after playing every week, playing a bit-part role is not how he wanted to finish his career.”
Thankfully, to many Liverpool fans pleasure, the reds chief executive does go on record to declare that discussions have begun regarding a possible return to Liverpool during the MLS off season in January of 2016.
He states: “I’ve said openly to Steven and his representatives, as have Brendan and the owners, that we see Steven as part of the family,” he continues. “The fact that he’s leaving at the end of the season doesn’t mean it’s the last we’ll see of him at Liverpool.”
“What that means, the details aren’t known yet. But we will keep a regular dialogue with him, and I hope we will see him here again in the long term.” When probed further and asked whether this could lead to a loan next January, Ayre said: “It’s conceivable. It happens a lot in MLS, and it’s something we talked to Steven and his representatives about.”
“You can’t have someone who has so much of the club’s DNA in them, and just expect that it will go away.”
Gerrard perhaps hinted at this scenario when speaking to LFCTV: “I’m really proud of what I’ve done and hopefully I can write a few more chapters. It’s so tough to say goodbye. But hopefully it’s more a see you soon than goodbye.“
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*The full interview between John Keith and Ian Ayre will be broadcast on Citytalk 105.9fm this Saturday at 6pm.
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