Parry puts #50m tag on Gerrard

Liverpool would only contemplate selling Steven Gerrard if the midfielder demanded a transfer with the club's chief executive Rick Parry insisting they would resist bids even as high as £50 million for the England international.

Parry admitted the Merseysiders would be powerless to prevent an unsettled Gerrard from leaving Anfield, though he remains confident the steady progress being made under Rafael Benitez this season will persuade the 24-year-old that he can achieve both domestic and continental success as a Liverpool player.

"We have re-affirmed recently to Steven that we are trying to build a team around him," Parry told Radio Five Live yesterday. "We crave success as much as he does. We know he's ambitious and nobody can argue with that. I think Steven would dearly love to win things with Liverpool more than he'd like to do anything else. We all want to see progress by next season. He's not alone in that, so we all have a common aim.

"Steven is above money. He is the future of Liverpool. It doesn't matter if it's £30 million, £40 million or £50 million, we will not accept offers. But we are also realistic enough to know we can't keep Steven against his will. His decision will be crucial."

Chelsea are expected to revive their long-standing interest in the midfielder at the end of the season after failing to sign Gerrard last summer. Although Liverpool never received a formal offer from the Londoners, the England international was aware of Chelsea's interest before confirming his desire to remain at Anfield in the wake of Benitez's appointment as manager.

Real Madrid have also expressed their interest in Gerrard, with Parry confirming that the Spanish club made an attempt during the recent negotiations over Fernando Morientes' move from the Bernabeu to include first refusal on the midfielder should he ever be granted permission to leave Liverpool.

Harry Kewell has suffered a setback in his bid to regain fitness for the games which could define Liverpool's season.

The former Leeds winger had hoped to be involved in the weekend clash with Fulham after apparently making good progress in his recovery from Achilles tendinitis. But he had to sit out the game, which Liverpool won 3-1, after the injury failed to clear up. The 26-year-old is unlikely to return to first-team action until next month.

Meanwhile, Ashley Cole could be asked to give evidence at an investigation by the Premier League into allegations Chelsea made an illegal approach for the Arsenal defender.

The Premier League have written to both clubs for their observations on reports the England player was "tapped up". Once those responses are returned, the governing body will then decide how to proceed, with a formal commission likely to be set up.

While agreement over a specific date for such a hearing to start would be likely to take some time, once the process is under way, the commission could then seek representation from all parties, and may ask Cole for his comments, albeit in the form of a written statement.

Chelsea, meanwhile, hope to find out later this week the full extent of Arjen Robben's injury. Robben injured his foot during the win at Blackburn earlier in the week.

The 21-year-old was sidelined for almost three months after suffering a broken foot and ankle ligament damage during a pre-season friendly against Roma, and there are fears he may be facing a similar spell on the sidelines again.

An initial medical examination was inconclusive because swelling around the injury was so bad, and further tests are to be carried out as the club try to determine just how long they will be without one of their key performers.