Friday 2 January 2015 20:31, UK
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will leave at the end of the season, according to the club, with Major League Soccer his most likely destination.
A statement from Liverpool FC on social media, read: “LFC can confirm that Steven Gerrard is to leave the club at the end of the 2014-15 season.”
Sky Sports News HQ understands Gerrard, who has spent his entire career at Anfield after signing as an eight-year-old boy, is in talks with Los Angeles Galaxy and the two New York clubs - City and Red Bulls - over a move to the USA in the summer.
The 34-year-old's current contract expires at the end of the season and he has been embroiled in lengthy negotiations with the club over his future, but he is also now free to discuss and sign a pre-contract agreement with another club.
Both Liverpool and the MLS refused to deny the midfielder is in talks with LA and the New York clubs, but the MLS did make sure to put on record that Gerrard is "a world-class player and soccer fans throughout the world have admired his talents for many years".
The Los Angeles Galaxy team president Chris Klein said: "We don't have anything yet. We don't comment on players that are not with our club. We've been pretty consistent with that all along."
Clubs from the Middle East and others in Europe have also reportedly shown interest in a player who still believes he has much to offer after 695 appearances,180 goals and 11 major trophies for Liverpool.
Gerrard's former Liverpool teammate and Sky Sports football expert Jamie Carragher said: "It's a sad day for Liverpool and English football with the Gerrard news.
"But I think it's the right decision all things considered."
Former Liverpool midfielder Terry McDermott said: "Mark my words, Gerrard is the greatest player to have played for Liverpool and it's a sad, sad day for everyone connected with the club."
