CARSON, Calif. – Steven Gerrard will be on the StubHub Center field this weekend for the LA Galaxy, and if things had played out a little differently, it might have been Frank Lampard anchoring their midfield.
The Galaxy were on the verge of signing the 37-year-old Chelsea legend as a Designated Player two years ago, but changes at his London club – primarily Jose Mourinho's return as manager – scuttled the deal, according to LA club president Chris Klein.
The Galaxy ended up making defender Omar Gonzalez a DP and this year signed Gerrard, who could renew his rivalry with fellow English midfield icon Lampard when New York City FC visits LA this Sunday (3 pm ET, ESPN).
Lampard's availability is uncertain after he suffered a quadriceps injury in training last week, an ailment that forced him to miss NYCFC's 2-2 draw Wednesday night at Columbus.
Klein, a former MLS midfielder, said the Galaxy were “really close” to bringing Lampard to the league.
“It was a couple years ago, and we came close,” Klein said following the Galaxy's training session Thursday morning. “He's a very good player and a good guy and someone we talked to for a long time, and timing just didn't work out, I think, on both sides. But we're happy he's here, happy he's in the league and playing for New York.”
Lampard in January signed a pre-contract with NYCFC, about a week after the Galaxy completed their deal to bring Gerrard over from Liverpool, and he made his debut off the bench in an Aug. 1 loss at Montreal. He made his first start in the loss to the New York Red Bulls two weekends ago.
Gerrard has made a strong impact in eight games for the Galaxy, five in league play, since making his debut in the July 11 International Champions Cup friendly against Club America.
Head coach Bruce Arena declined to talk Thursday about the Galaxy's pursuit of Lampard, but The Mirror reported in June that Arena said LA tried to sign Lampard last summer.
"We recruited Frank pretty hard here," Arena told the British daily. “The deal was close. ... We talk to pretty much every single player that is interested in coming to the US, and certainly when you hear Frank Lampard is willing, you're going to have a lengthy conversation.”
Klein says it was 2013.
“It didn't fall out over money or someone not wanting to be there,” Klein said, “but [Chelsea] had changes, and I think when Mourinho went back there, he wanted [Lampard] to stay. He's a valuable player as a leader and as a player on the field. He decided to stay, and he's a Chelsea legend, so who could argue with that?”
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The Galaxy started courting Gerrard last fall. Klein said LA didn't target Lampard again after their first attempt to sign him failed.
“After that, we moved on. We didn't have spots, and New York took interest,” Klein said. “Ultimately, we think a lot of Frank as a person, as a professional, and we want great players in this league. New York had an interest, and so they were the ones that ultimately ended up going after him.”
Klein said the Galaxy never pursued Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who also joined NYC this summer, but Ghanaian midfielder Kwadwo Poku, who has impressed with the expansion team, was in the Galaxy's sights.
“We had an interest in the player, as well, and knew about him when he was in Atlanta [with the NASL's Silverbacks],” Arena said. “He's a player with a lot of potential.”
