Steven Gerrard's transfer to Real Madrid could be imminent, as with Rafa Benitez's departure from Anfield, the club's proprietors have put a €30 million price tag on the English midfielder, according to Marca.
Benitez's exit, in effect, makes transfer talks with Liverpool much easier for los Blancos. Rafa was a holdout in the Xabi Alonso transfer deal last summer that sent the Basque midfielder to Madrid for a higher price than the Merengues would have preferred to pay and was anticipated to be a major hurdle in signing Gerrard from the Reds this summer.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has long been an outspoken admirer of Gerrard and reportedly hoped to sign him during his time at Chelsea. Now, with the Liverpool club hierarchy having put an asking price on the table, Benitez's exit could facilitate Gerrard's move to Spain where the Liverpool captain would reunite with Xabi Alonso in midfield.