Real Madrid presidential candidate Florentino Perez is being warned off Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. The Daily Mail says Gerrard is thought to be on a short list of targets that Perez wants to land, but tentative enquiries have concluded that the England midfielder never wants to leave his hometown club.

In any case, sources believe it would take offers of £80million to tempt Liverpool into selling in their inspirational leader, which has left Madrid looking at other targets.

The Spanish champions could still raid Anfield for Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres, but the latter has openly spoken of his dislike for Real Madrid because of his associations with city rivals Atletico.