Liverpool intend to supply James Milner a contract extension, sources have reiterated to 90min, however coping with different priorities means talks are but to get underway.
Milner, who made his Premier League debut as a 16-year-old for Leeds United in 2002, turned 37 in January, however regardless of his advancing years he stays an vital rotation possibility for a Liverpool aspect which have struggled for consistency.
Jurgen Klopp has handed Milner 32 appearances in all competitions this season, together with three begins in Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League marketing campaign – one which ended with a latest two-legged defeat by the hands of holders Actual Madrid – however his present Anfield contract is because of expire on the finish of the season.
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been touted as potential departures, however there’s been little noise made about the way forward for Milner, who joined Liverpool on a free switch from Manchester Metropolis in 2015.
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Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp has at all times maintained that Milner’s ‘character’ is invaluable for the membership, and hinted in mid-January that the Reds plan to maintain him on Merseyside past the tip of his present deal.
“We now have totally different plans for Milly however Milly needs to maintain enjoying. Whenever you see him play the opposite evening I feel everybody understands that. You possibly can’t decide him regular for his age. He’s 37, does not look a day like this when he’s in coaching,” Klopp mentioned.
Sources have confirmed to 90min that Liverpool do plan to carry talks with Milner and that the participant himself is eager to stay on the membership. That mutual willingness has seen the membership deal with different precedence areas, however negotiations will happen within the coming months.
The futures of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are seen to be much more unsure, whereas Liverpool are working arduous within the background to safe the signing of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund – although they face stiff competitors from Manchester Metropolis and Actual Madrid to get a deal over the road.
Whereas Klopp has been filled with reward for Milner, it’s clear that Liverpool counting on a 37-year-old midfielder to play 30+ video games a season is indicative of an actual problem on the membership.
The Reds are clearly in dire want of some new younger expertise in the course of the park – one thing which the membership appear to concentrate on as a consequence of their pursuit of Jude Bellingham – however they doubtlessly want to dump Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain earlier than Milner is let go, to liberate house on the wage invoice and doubtlessly herald switch funds.
The Fabio Carvalho enjoying in midfield experiment hasn’t actually labored and we’re but to essentially know what Harvey Elliott’s finest place is, regardless of some promising performances.
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