Real Madrid to offer £20M for Liverpool's Gerrard

Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has given president Florentino Perez the green light to bid for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
 
The midfielder hinted that he was ready to commit himself to a new deal at Liverpool after Tuesday night's Champions League semifinal victory over Chelsea.

But Perez is ready to test Liverpool's resolve and will offer £20 million for Gerrard ahead of the summer market. Liverpool won't consider anything less than £25 million, but Perez won't be put off and if given encouragement will be prepared to up his bid.

Former Real coaches Jose Antonio Camacho and Mariano Garcia Remon both urged Perez to bring Gerrard to Madrid earlier this season and now Luxemburgo has thrown his weight behind the bid.

Chelsea have also been chasing Gerrard, but their interest has cooled in the fortnight, particularly with a deal for Corinthians midfielder Javier Mascherano virtually sealed.

Real directors have pumped Fernando Morientes for information on Gerrard and the Liverpool striker has given his captain a glowing assessment.