Liverpool Transfer News: Steven Gerrard Loan Return in 2016 Would Be Huge Error

The dust has barely settled on Steven Gerrard's exit from Liverpool, with reports now suggesting the former England ace will return to Anfield on-loan in 2016.

Chris Bascombe of The Telegraph says Brendan Rodgers is planning to bring the midfield legend back to the club in January 2016—during the MLS offseason—where Gerrard is likely to be playing at the end of the Premier League campaign.

The club confirmed on Friday that Gerrard would definitely be leaving his one and only team next summer:

But Bascombe writes the 34-year-old is likely to wear Liverpool's colours once more, taking the route many individuals have when joining American teams.

This would mimic Thierry Henry's return to Arsenal while playing for the New York Red Bulls, and it would give Rodgers a temporary boost to his central berth in 12 months' time.

And the Fenway Sports Group—the current owners of the Merseyside giants—have already hinted Gerrard will return to Anfield in the not-so-distant future, with the player already in the process of obtaining his coaching badges, per Bascombe:

"Steven [Gerrard] will always have a part to play for this club, as and when the time comes that he wishes to return."

On the outside looking in, a move for Gerrard would seem logical to the layman and neutral football fan. But this is a huge opportunity for Liverpool to move forward and reshape their destiny. A future that should not include Gerrard as a member of the squad.

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For many years, Gerrard has dominated proceedings at Anfield as star players and captains often do. But besides last season's fine run towards nearly winning the Premier League, Liverpool have failed on countless occasions under his leadership.

This is not to say that Gerrard has been a bad player or skipper—far from it. However, there comes a time when all players must move on, and Gerrard has himself recognised this by making his announcement during the middle of an important season for his club.

As a marquee name, Gerrard knows his value—and he will enter the MLS as one of their star attractions. It does not matter which team he joins, he will certainly be lauded before his arrival.

And Fox Soccer host Keith Costigan believes Gerrard could end up as the LA Galaxy's latest English import and says he will become the highest-paid player in American soccer:

Liverpool should not entertain a nostalgic return to Anfield after his summer exit because it will fully compromise their rebuilding progress as they look to life after Stevie G.

The myriad scenarios dictate that Gerrard could strengthen Liverpool in the same way Frank Lampard has with Manchester City—but the two situations are very different.

City are already a very strong team without Lampard, and he has added value to their midfield during a period where the squad's two best players are out injured—Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany.

Lampard is a natural leader, and with his move to New York City heavily interwoven with his loan to the Sky Blues, it was always likely he would perform well at the Etihad.

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Gerrard, on the other hand, will be returning to a Liverpool team that will now be forced to go through a period of genetic reconstruction without their talisman and hero of the past 17 years. 

His return cannot help matters if the team is trying to build for a brighter future.

And at present, you can see how Gerrard's own influence is waning on the pitch, with Liverpool a full 17 points behind league leaders Chelsea.

This performance is not good enough for a team like Liverpool, and if Rodgers did not have such a sensational campaign last year with Luis Suarez pulling the strings—it is likely he would have been relieved of his duties by the Fenway Group by now.

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Rodgers is on borrowed time, and he needs to shut Gerrard out of his future thinking. The player's exit will free money up on the wage bill, and he can invest in a world-class midfielder.

Whoever that player might be, he will not need Gerrard returning next January to a rapturous welcome as Liverpool look to become genuine title contenders once again.

Gerrard will always be remembered favourably by Liverpudlians of a red disposition, and that is not a surprising fact. But the player's fitness will not be of true English standard when he arrives back on these shores after a period in an inferior league.

The MLS has improved greatly in the past decade, but the intensity of competition does not match that of the Premier League, and it never will.

Rodgers must view Gerrard's exit as a positive for his squad, rather than the nervous, negative rhetoric his side will suffer until the summer months. Bringing the former godhead back to Anfield can only complicate matters further.