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CELTIC are favourites to sign Steven Gerrard, according to bookies.

Ladbrokes have priced up the former Liverpool captain at 7/2 to make the Glasgow giants his next destination.

Rumours he’ll pitch up at Parkhead have been circulating since the summer – but are they pie in the sky or do they have merit?

Record Sport Online examines the likelihood of a January switch, with the 36-year-old midfielder almost certain to quit LA Galaxy.

(Image: stevengerrard/Instagram)

WHY HE COULD JOIN CELTIC

1) Playing days are not over

It’s understood Gerrard is not yet ready to hang up his boots. We reported last week sources close to the player told ESPN he feels he still has the legs for more action – despite being 36 years of age.

2) Geography

Gerrard has spent nearly a year in America and is believed along with his wife Alex Curran to want a return to the UK. Glasgow is only 200-odd miles away from his home city of Liverpool so a move to Celtic could appeal.

3) The EPL is a no-go area

Gerrard has privately made it clear he will not sign for any club in the English Premier League other than Liverpool, such is his affection for the team he served with distinction for 17 years. So if he wants to keep playing – while also returning to Britain – Celtic shouldn’t be discounted.

4) Chance for more success

The former England captain has won two FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Cup and, famously, the Champions League but never a league championship. Of course the Premiership is not nearly as an attractive prize as England’s title. Nevertheless, success in some form or another would be a near guarantee in Glasgow’s East End.

5) He’s a "fan"

There can be no denying that first and foremost Liverpool is Gerrard’s team. But former Celtic player Andy Lynch revealed in Record Sport Gerrard’s love for the Hoops. Lynch said: “It was him who brought up the subject of Celtic and you could see he was pretty excited talking about it. He said ‘that’s my team, that’s who I support’. Lynch also told how Gerrard has a framed Hoops top hung up at his home.

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC)

6) Chance to work with Brendan Rodgers again

Rodgers said this when he was appointed manager in the summer: “When I went into Liverpool, Steven was 32 years of age. There was talk that his best days were maybe gone but Steven went on for the next two years and was brilliant for me – a great leader and one who nearly went on to pick up the title. His performance level went up again." Gerrard for his part loved working with Rodgers and wrote in his autobiography that training sessions under Rodgers were "amongst the best I had ever experienced, while his man-management was excellent, generous and imaginative".

WHY HE WOULDN’T JOIN CELTIC

(Image: B Kanaris/Liverpool FC)

1) Rodgers wouldn’t want him

Gerrard’s age could well be a hurdle Rodgers does not want to clamber over. The Hoops boss signed four outfield players in the summer – and only one was more than 30 years of age. Moussa Dembele was 19, Scott Sinclair 27, Cristian Gamboa 27. Just Kolo Toure at 35 was a thirty-something. With Rodgers believing in youth and a fan of pace and a high-pressing game, Gerrard would fail to tick any of those boxes.

2) He’d be too expensive

Gerrard was the MLS’ second highest-paid player, behind only Kaka. The Scouser earned an eye-watering £4million a year at Galaxy. He was paid double that at Liverpool. Whether he feels he has made enough money in his career remains open to conjecture. He would certainly earn far more in the likes of China – another possible destination mooted – than he would at Celtic.

(Image: CHRIS NEILL/MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHY)

3) Liverpool is his calling

Given his previous comments, a return to his spiritual home appears the best bet. Jurgen Klopp has had him back at the club's Melwood training ground and a return to Anfield in a coaching role cannot be ruled out.

4) SPFL is a backwater

Despite the size of Celtic, the league is one of Europe’s sick men. There’s no title challenge – an incentive Joey Barton would have seized upon when Rangers made their interest known – so would the prospect of joining a team already sauntering to the championship prove that alluring? Maybe not.

5) No European football

At least not this season. Come January, Celtic will be out of the Champions League – bar a miracle – and the Europa League looks unlikely, too. There’s always next season, of course, but by then he’ll be 37 years of age.