Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Steven Gerrard and Memphis Depay Rumours

The future of outgoing Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard could be about to take a turn. Meanwhile, the Reds appear ready to add a young star to offset Gerrard's loss.

Decorated club talisman Gerrard is playing his final season at Anfield. His next move is supposed to be a jaunt to the MLS to join the LA Galaxy. But in between, the 34-year-old could briefly ply his trade for Celtic, per the Sunday People (h/t Joe Short of the Sunday Express).

The report claims the terms of Gerrard's deal with the Galaxy will permit him to play elsewhere "between December and March," the latter being the start of the MLS season.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Gerrard is set to earn "around £4 million a year" on an 18-month deal once he makes the move to Los Angeles, per Jamie Jackson of The Guardian. Short compared the idea of Gerrard making a cameo stop in Scotland's Premier League before his move stateside to Thierry Henry's brief return to Arsenal in 2012.

It's not quite the same thing. Liverpool might even prefer Gerrard sticks around at Anfield during the intervening months. That's despite the captain's marginalised role this season.

Manager Brendan Rodgers will likely pay less attention to Gerrard's immediate future and instead focus on adding more pace and guile to his attack. His prime target appears to be PSV Eindhoven winger Memphis Depay, according to Simon Mullock of the Mirror.

The talented 21-year-old will cost at least £20 million, but Liverpool appear to be winning the race for the youthful Netherlands international. The Merseyside club apparently have the edge over bitter rival Manchester United.

Depay certainly boasts the speed and technical quality to thrive in the expansive, attacking game Rodgers favours. But perhaps there's another reason why Liverpool's interest suddenly appears so strong.

The Reds are currently struggling to find an agreement on a new long-term deal with lightning-fast forward Raheem Sterling. Liverpool Echo reporter James Pearce believes the standoff between club and player won't abate before the summer.

Pearce feels as though Sterling is being badly advised by his agent, Aidy Ward. He emphasised just how much money the 20-year-old has been willing to leave on the table: "Sterling has turned down an eye-watering amount of cash. Currently on a basic salary of around £35,000 per week, which is inflated by various performance related bonuses, Liverpool have offered to nearly treble that to around £100,000 per week in a new five-year contract."

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

If Sterling and Ward's entrenched stance really becomes a problem, Liverpool will need some leverage. Openly courting an obvious Sterling replacement like Depay would certainly offer that.

Rodgers' squad is already prepared for Gerrard's departure, no matter where the veteran midfield ace goes next. But Sterling's situation creates unwanted uncertainty and distraction around one of the club's leading talents.

If the worst happened, the blow would certainly be softened by Depay's arrival.