LIVERPOOL CAPTAIN STEVEN Gerrard has claimed that Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid have all tried to sign him.

Gerrard said he has always been committed to the Anfield club and insists he never had any intention of quitting his home-town team.

However many people, including former England manager Sven Goran-Eriksson, have suggested Gerrard must leave Liverpool if he wants to add that ever elusive Premier League winner’s medal to his collection.

Jose Mourinho came as close as anyone to securing Gerrard’s services. He first approached the England captain during his time at Chelsea but Gerrard also revealed the ‘Special One’ expressed an interest in him after taking over at Real Madrid.

He told the Daily Mail: “This club (Liverpool) weren’t really challenging at the time, so there was something to think about. But I ended up saying no (to Mourinho in 2004] and a year later I said no again.

“But he came back when he arrived at Real Madrid two years ago. I look at some players who get interest from clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona and they cause absolute wars to get out and get there.

“But that has never been me and, again, it just wasn’t going to happen. I was happy here. I was settled. I thought all that had gone really.”

Sir Alex Ferguson once described the 32-year-old as the most influential player in the Premier League and Gerrard said the Scot was also keen on taking him to Old Trafford.

While admitting he was flattered by Ferguson’s interest, Gerrard never even contemplated joining Liverpool’s fiercest rivals.

“It was flattering back then because the two best managers around wanted me to play in their teams,” he said.

“Gary Neville said he (Ferguson) wanted me. But you understand that playing for Manchester United would have been impossible.

“I never would have wanted to play for Manchester United. They are a fantastic club but that rivalry is there, and it’s why Gary could not have played for us either.

“Don’t get me wrong. It was flattering that, after everything he has done in the game, Sir Alex Ferguson wanted me to play in his team. But that was an impossible situation.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool will restart their search for a new managing director next week following a disastrous transfer deadline day at the club, Goal.com can reveal.

Owners Fenway Sports Group have revived their plans after Ian Ayre was deemed culpable for Brendan Rodgers being left with only two recognised strikers when the transfer window closed on Friday night after their pursuit of Clint Dempsey fell through.

Ayre was charged with negotiating with Fulham for the striker, who had made no secret of his desire to move to Anfield and was greatly admired by the club’s American owners, but refused to match Tottenham Hotspur’s six million pounds valuation, which saw him move across the capital.

Rodgers was assured before allowing Andy Carroll to join West Ham United on a season-long loan that a deal for a replacement attacker was in place but the move for Dempsey, as well as that for Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge, failed to materialise.

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