Chelsea front-runners for midfield dynamo Gerrard

CHELSEA are now on alert and clearly front-runners after Steven Gerrard’s contract talks at Liverpool ran into trouble.

The Barclays Premiership champions, open and long-time admirers of the England and Liverpool midfielder, may assess the possibility of approaching the Reds with a firm bid for his services now it would appear his future lies away from Anfield.

Chelsea's first-team squad are due to return to training today and boss Jose Mourinho wanted all his new faces to be signed, sealed and delivered by then.