Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez worked with reported Celtic target Steven Gerrard at Liverpool.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has suggested to The Chronicle that he is not interested in signing Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in the January transfer window.
Gerrard is on the books of Los Angeles Galaxy at the moment and has a contract until December 2016, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk.
The former England international midfielder seems set to leave the Major League Soccer club.
The Liverpool legend is 36 years of age and could still play for a couple of more years.
Gerrard worked with Benitez at Liverpool, and the duo won the Champions League with the Reds in 2005.
Benitez is now in charge of Newcastle, who are playing in the Championship this season after getting relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
The Spaniard has commented on the possibility of the Magpies signing Gerrard in the January transfer window.
The former Chelsea boss has also outlined his plan to strengthen his squad in January.
“I was surprised as it was the first I’d read about Stevie,” Benitez told The Chronicle when asked about the possibility of signing Gerrard in January.
“They (the media) were asking me if he can be a manager. I think he’s a great player and has been one of the best I have ever coached. We haven’t talked about it (the transfer).
“It’s a surprise, and is it a possibility? It would be very difficult because we have a good team and we are doing well. We are not looking for names.”
“What we want to be sure of is that we have a good team,” added Benitez. “And when we go to the transfer window in January our idea is to find the players that we need. It’s not names. It is players that can be good now or in the future. Can we find these players?
“January is a difficult window because the best players are in good teams who are playing in Europe or fighting for something and they won’t leave their clubs.”
Scottish Premiership giants Celtic have also been linked with a move for Gerrard in the January transfer window.
According to a recent report in The Daily Record, the English midfielder could move to Celtic Park in January.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Gerrard worked together at Liverpool and almost won the Premier League title during the 2013-14 season.
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