Liverpool's best summer signing could be Steven Gerrard admits boss Brendan Rodgers
Reds have snapped up a string of new faces but their captain's decision to extend his contract delighted the manager
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Brendan Rodgers reckons he’s made the best signing of the summer... and it hasn’t cost him a penny in transfer fees.
The Liverpool manager has revealed he told the Anfield giants' board that securing skipper Steven Gerrard on a new contract would be the “biggest signing” they could make, because of his influence on the team.
The England star has now committed the rest of his career to the Reds by agreeing a two-year extension to his deal, which takes him beyond his 36th birthday, and will celebrate with a testimonial game at the weekend.
For Rodgers, it is a massive signing... not least because of his captain’s leadership qualities.
“His influence here is still at such a high level - the role he’s provided for me is so important,” the manager explained.
“I told the club in the summer that our biggest signing could be Steven Gerrard, because of the influence he has on everyone. It’s about his hunger to learn and the leadership that offers.
“It’s vital to have a good lieutenant and him and Carra were certainly that for me last year - and he has picked up the baton again.”
The captain will lead the Reds out against Olympiacos at Anfield on Saturday in a game that will mark his 15 years as a Liverpool player, with all proceeds going to the Steven Gerrard charitable foundation.
Yet far from signaling the curtain coming down on a remarkable career, Rodgers believes the testimonial game - against opponents who provided one of the player’s greatest memories - will merely again confirm the midfielder’s enduring qualities.
“I don’t see anyone like him, he’s absolutely phenomenal and still someone who is very, very important,” Rodgers added.
“I just see the quality in his game. He is still, for me, the best passer of a ball in the Premier League. You see some of them he hits from all over the field and it’s incredible, how he strikes it. Nobody can do it like him.
“He’s 33 now, but I feel he could go on for a few years, he could adapt his role where he can become the playmaker. His role will be to make the team tick, get them playing. And for me there is no better player in the Premier League to do that.
“To have him on board, certainly for the duration of my contract here and hopefully beyond, that will be brilliant.”
Rodgers has made another summer signing - agreeing a deal that will see Benfica utility player Lorenzo Melgarejo arrive on loan with an option to making the move permanent.
The Paraguay international, who played at left-back for his Portuguese side last season but is equally at home on the wing, will cost £7m to buy.
Rodgers is still some way from signing Greek centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos however, with his German club Schalke insisting no deal has yet been struck for the 21-year-old.
The Liverpool manager has revealed he told the Anfield giants' board that securing skipper Steven Gerrard on a new contract would be the “biggest signing” they could make, because of his influence on the team.
The England star has now committed the rest of his career to the Reds by agreeing a two-year extension to his deal, which takes him beyond his 36th birthday, and will celebrate with a testimonial game at the weekend.
For Rodgers, it is a massive signing... not least because of his captain’s leadership qualities.
“His influence here is still at such a high level - the role he’s provided for me is so important,” the manager explained.
“I told the club in the summer that our biggest signing could be Steven Gerrard, because of the influence he has on everyone. It’s about his hunger to learn and the leadership that offers.
“It’s vital to have a good lieutenant and him and Carra were certainly that for me last year - and he has picked up the baton again.”
The captain will lead the Reds out against Olympiacos at Anfield on Saturday in a game that will mark his 15 years as a Liverpool player, with all proceeds going to the Steven Gerrard charitable foundation.
Yet far from signaling the curtain coming down on a remarkable career, Rodgers believes the testimonial game - against opponents who provided one of the player’s greatest memories - will merely again confirm the midfielder’s enduring qualities.
“I don’t see anyone like him, he’s absolutely phenomenal and still someone who is very, very important,” Rodgers added.
“I just see the quality in his game. He is still, for me, the best passer of a ball in the Premier League. You see some of them he hits from all over the field and it’s incredible, how he strikes it. Nobody can do it like him.
“He’s 33 now, but I feel he could go on for a few years, he could adapt his role where he can become the playmaker. His role will be to make the team tick, get them playing. And for me there is no better player in the Premier League to do that.
“To have him on board, certainly for the duration of my contract here and hopefully beyond, that will be brilliant.”
Rodgers has made another summer signing - agreeing a deal that will see Benfica utility player Lorenzo Melgarejo arrive on loan with an option to making the move permanent.
The Paraguay international, who played at left-back for his Portuguese side last season but is equally at home on the wing, will cost £7m to buy.
Rodgers is still some way from signing Greek centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos however, with his German club Schalke insisting no deal has yet been struck for the 21-year-old.
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