Report: Inter may trump Gerrard's managerial offer with playing deal

Inter Milan has emerged as an unlikely destination for Steven Gerrard to spend the swansong of his playing days amid a reported managerial approach from Milton Keynes Dons, according to The Independent's Simon Hughes.

Talks with MK Dons are believed to be at a formative stage, but if Gerrard, 36, believes he can still cut it on a football pitch, the third-tier struggler would unlikely beat an offer from the underperforming Serie A giant.

Inter's interest was apparently made official in October under former manager Frank de Boer when it made contact with Gerrard, and under new boss Stefano Pioli - who's set to make his touchline debut for the club against archrival AC Milan on Sunday - the former Liverpool midfielder's appeal hasn't waned.

Part of that reason is because of the floundering of summer signings Joao Mario and Ever Banega in the middle of the park, and the intention to listen to offers for Felipe Melo and Gary Medel in the January transfer window. That would leave a potential new-look midfield of incumbent Inter man Geoffrey Kondogbia and Gerrard.

It is believed that Gerrard isn't short of offers from various clubs in Europe, though.

Another potential next stop for Gerrard after he ended his LA Galaxy stay earlier this week has been touted as Celtic, which is overseen by the 114-time England international's former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. The Ulsterman has, however, distanced himself from these reports.

Related: Rodgers plays down Gerrard's Celtic link

The ultimate ambition for the Knowsley lad would be to take a return to Liverpool, the club he represented at senior level between 1998 and 2015. That route seems temporarily closed for now because of his dwindling form in his later years on Merseyside and the fact that manager Jurgen Klopp already has his backroom staff in place.