Liverpool are set to beat Arsenal to acquire the services of Manchester City star James Milner on a free transfer after holding advanced talks with him earlier this week according to reports in BBC and Liverpool Echo . .
Arsenal were hoping to sign the midfielder, but, it increasingly looks likely that the Manchester City star who joined from Aston Villa in 2010 for A?26m will sign for Liverpool on July 1 on a free transfer.
Milner was reportedly offered a contract worth A?165000 a week to stay at Manchester City which he will now reject to move to Anfield. Liverpool have been on the look out for a central midfielder with Steven Gerrard set to move to the United States to play for the L.A. Galaxy at the end of his contract. James Milner, who has represented England 53 times, will be a welcome addition with media reports in Italy also linking the Reds with a move for Kovacic of Inter Milan.
Having endured a poor season, and with the club coming under severe criticism off late for their transfer dealings, the Anfield chiefs would want to get the Milner deal done in quick time. Signing a player of Milner’s quality, who at 29 is at the peak of his playing career, represents a significant coupe for the English giants. Milner has made a reputation for being hardworking, intelligent, and a proven performer during his time at Manchester City that led to manager Pellegrini and a host of players asking him to stay back. These attributes will be very much in demand at Liverpool with the departure of talisman Steven Gerrard, as manager Brendan Rodgers looks to rebuild his side that went so close to the title in 2013-14. Gerrard’s creativity will have to be compensated for should Liverpool again have a realistic chance of geting into the top four and James Milner’s ‘Key Passes’, ‘Chances Created’ and ‘Assist’ numbers being better than Steven Gerrard in 14-15 will be very welcome at Anfield. Milner’s title winning experience at Manchester City will also be of huge importance at Liverpool for a squad with only three players over 28 years of age following the departure of Glen Johnson and Steven Gerrard.