When Steven Gerrard, this week, announced that he would be leaving Los Angeles Galaxy, the wide held belief on Merseyside was that their prodigal son would be returning home to take up a role at Anfield.
However, a report from the BBC today suggested that the Liverpool reunion may have to be put on ice after Gerrard emerged as a surprise candidate to fill the managerial vacancy at MK Dons.
It would certainly be an unexpected move but the speculation does appear to be grounded in truth. According to a report from The Mirror, though, Gerrard will only consider taking up the reigns at the League One strugglers if they prove one thing first.
Per the newspaper, Gerrard has made clear that MK Dons must convince him that they are “serious about reaching the Premier League” before he will contemplate accepting his first managerial post.
Given that they currently occupy 21st position in the third tier of English football – a spot good enough only for relegation as it stands – that task might prove easier said than done.
Gerrard, who is in the middle of trying to get his UEFA A licence, has been in contact with Dons chairman Pete Winkleman and it is in these “preliminary talks” where we assume the 36-year-old laid down his Premier League requirement.
With the former Liverpool and England star apparently ready to hold further talks, it does look like he is giving Winkleman a bit of time to come up with an answer.
Both parties would obviously be taking a big risk if Gerrard were to be appointed manager. However, as Ryan Giggs has discovered over recent months, just because you have an outstanding playing CV doesn’t mean you can walk into a job in the top leagues.
Still, it speaks to Gerrard’s ambition, that he is already plotting a path to the Premier League if he is to drop down to League One.
Liverpool fans watching on as the story develops will be hoping that MK Dons fail to satisfy Gerrard’s concerns.
They, of course, would love to see their former captain return to Anfield – either as a member of Jurgen Klopp’s staff or in an ambassadorial role.
With the current squad flying high at the top of the table and looking like genuine title contenders, Gerrard’s return in time to see them lift a top division trophy for the first time in more than two decades would certainly be a fairy tale ending for fans of the club.
Whether the iconic midfielder would choose that over a chance at management – and even, as the Mirror reports, a player-manager role – remains to be seen.
Frank Lampard and Giggs are both also said to be on MK Dons’ radar.