MELBOURNE Victory boss Kevin Muscat has distanced his club from speculation linking Steven Gerrard with the A-League.

Since the Liverpool legend left LA Galaxy in America, and became a free agent, there have been whispers about interest brewing from clubs in Australia, working alongside Football Federation Australia, to make the most of their marquee funds.

Fox Sports understands that Gerrard, who had talks with League One club MK Dons about taking their vacant manager spot, is more focused on a career in management now.

Victory, who made two unsuccessful plays for a marquee before the season - Alessandro Diamanta and Michael Essien - were the club most heavily linked with the Premier League icon, however, Muscat ended that speculation.

“At this stage no,” Muscat told SEN radio on Wednesday.

“We’ve been contacted in relation to a few players.

“But any discussions with those players will remain confidential.

“At this stage, there’s no chance, no.”

With Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Robbie Keane now all free agents following the end of their Major League Soccer careers, could A-League clubs make a play?

Steven Gerrard leads the Liverpool Legends out in Sydney. Source: News Corp Australia

Lampard was close to joining Melbourne City but rules precluded that, so he moved to Manchester City before his New York stint, while Keane has been linked with Brisbane Roar this week.

Speaking on the Fox Football Podcast, Daniel Garb said: “Make the offers by all means.

“Kevin Muscat has already hosed down speculation … saying it’s not in my plans.

“My understanding is – having spoken to someone close to the Gerrard camp – is he is fully set on becoming a coach now.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST with Adam Peacock, Simon Hill and Daniel Garb.

“I think he misses Liverpool desperately. He basically hinted that, basically.

“He misses the Premier League; it’s hard for him to see the club progressing when he’s not involved.

“I think he wants to get in the Jurgen Klopp coaching set-up, ideally.

“His ideal scenario would be the next manager once Jurgen Klopp departs.

“MK Dons made an offer; he already sat down … which goes to show how keen he is to become a coach.

“But Lampard, Keane, by all means. Look at that with great interest.”

Steven Gerrard with Robbie Slater in Sydney. Source: News Corp Australia

As for the idea that Australia should still be making a play for these sorts of players, Simon Hill added “bring them in”.

“I do still think we need that little sprinkle of magic dust,” he said on the podcast.

“In this period of time ... they work. Sorry purists, I’m one of them, but they work in a market that’s still immature.

“If we have to have it, let’s have the biggest names.”

Melbourne Victory boss Ian Robson told SEN Radio: “To me it just seems a million miles off because the money involved from what we’re led to believe is just going to make it unaffordable and uneconomic.

“It’s a million to one shot.”

“Is it a player that would turn the dial in terms of interest? I don’t think there’s any doubt Steven Gerrard would turn the dial,” Robson said.

“But whether or not what we would think it would be pragmatic, practical - dare I say it, affordable - in real terms here, is sometimes a long way off.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has added to the suggestion that Gerrard’s next move will involve a clipboard, not boots, saying it is just “a matter of time” before his former Liverpool team-mate becomes a manager.

Gerrard reportedly turned down a chance to take over at English third-tier side Milton Keynes Dons after his playing contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy expired.

Carragher reckoned the chance to manage at Milton Keynes came too soon for his close friend, but added the 36-year-old former Liverpool and England skipper will move into coaching soon enough.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen now going there, I just don’t think he fancies it (MK Dons),” Carragher said during a Twitter Q&A on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football show.

“He’s turned it down now but the fact he spoke to a club shows it will only be a matter of time.

“I just think it’s come too early, six or 12 months down the line there would have been a good chance of it happening.

“I don’t think he is fully ready yet. That’s not to say he couldn’t do the job, but maybe he wants to see if he can get more experience and he is still getting his coaching badges.”

Gerrard has not yet made any decision on his future, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp having previously said there will always be a place for the Reds great at Anfield if he wants one.

But Carragher, now a television pundit, said it was credit to Gerrard that he wanted to go into coaching rather than the media.

“I think it’s great he’s making noises about going into management,” he added. “We’ve all been criticised for not going into that and going on TV, if you like.

“If he’d have taken the job it would have been a good decision in terms of the club. Alex Ferguson always used to say, ‘Don’t pick your club, pick your chairman’.

“That chairman (Pete Winkelman at MK Dons) gave Karl Robinson plenty of time, gave Roberto Di Matteo and Paul Ince a chance.

“I think the chairman more than the club probably would have enticed him. “But he’s only just got back from the States, his family didn’t go over fully so it would be a big move to move down to Milton Keynes with the kids in school, that type of thing.”