Chelsea last night tabled a British-record bid of £32 million for Steven Gerrard in an attempt to prise the Liverpool captain from Anfield, leaving the England midfielder facing the biggest dilemma of his career.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry today confirmed Chelsea have made a bid for Steven Gerrard but maintained it would be rejected by the European champions.
Chelsea are believed to have bid a British record £32 million for the England star after negotiations broke down over a new contract at Anfield.
Parry told the BBC: "I can confirm we have had a bid from Chelsea and that it will be rejected by us."
Liverpool are reported to have offered their 25-year-old captain a new deal worth £100,000 a week. He has two years remaining on his current deal.
Real Madrid are also monitoring the situation, although director of football Arrigo Sacchi said yesterday: "Until the player makes a move we are not going to be involved in a fight for his services."
Gerrard was an inspirational figure in Liverpool's Champions League final victory in May and openly admitted after the defeat of AC Milan in Istanbul he would struggle to leave the only club he has ever played for.
However, his departure now looks highly likely and would set a record fee for a British transfer. Rio Ferdinand's £29.1million move to Manchester United from Leeds in 2002 was the previous highest mark.
Gerrard's agent Struan Marshall claimed yesterday that contract talks were "unlikely to re-open" but Parry had insisted the situation was "repairable".
"We have wanted to keep Steven all along," he said.