Veteran star James Milner could reportedly be set to leave Liverpool in the off-season despite being a favourite in Jurgen Klopp’s dressing room.
According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs (via Give Me Sport), Liverpool midfielder James Milner could end up leaving Anfield at the end of the season.
Jacobs said to GMS: “The club have not started anything with Milner yet. Because we’re getting now close towards the contract expiring at the end of the season, if Liverpool did want to keep Milner, they obviously would have started something now and, to my understanding, they haven’t.
“So it looks like James Milner will leave Liverpool at the end of the season and we wait and see whether anything on the field changes that over the last few games of the season. But Liverpool have not yet instigated anything with Milner, so until they do, whether Milner wants to stay or not is irrelevant, because if there are no talks taking place, then his contract will just expire.”
Liverpool’s 0-0 stalemate with Chelsea on Tuesday night served as yet another reminder, if one was needed, that significant surgery is needed this summer.
The Blues would have won easily if Todd Boehly had spent a tiny part of his £500 million+ outlay over the last two transfer seasons on a competent striker, with Kai Havertz flattering to deceive when in front of goal.
As for the Reds, a much-changed starting XI did at least compete, though the result puts another dent in their hopes of sneaking into the top four. The upcoming summer will be a crucial one for Klopp.
The German has admitted a big makeover must be done, especially because so many of his current crop will depart. Midfield is set to be the priority, with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (a free agent), and Arthur Melo (a loan expiry) all set to leave Anfield.
Another player who could be joining them could be vice captain James Milner if the Liverpool board doesn’t follow Klopp’s advice for another 12-month extension.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein recently reported that FSG are yet to even open talks with Milner over a new deal. The 37-year-old is out of contract at season’s end, and Klopp does not want to lose one of his most consistent and trusted players over the years, but the Liverpool chiefs seem ready to plough on with new midfield signings regardless.
The versatile Liverpool veteran has lifted every major trophy under the sun with the Reds since making the move from Manchester City on a free transfer back in 2015. The Englishman has proven to be a bargain signing for Liverpool, and he’s still doing a commendable job in Klopp’s squad this season, despite the fact he is coming towards the twilight years of his long and stellar career.
He’s currently serving as a jack-of-all-trades and pushing those underperforming around him, and he could still be helpful for Liverpool through this rebuilding job. However, as the Reds prepare to restructure their roster over the summer, the question arises:
Could Milner’s £120,000-per-week salary be better invested elsewhere given the Reds’ shortcomings this season? a debate that appears to go against his case as he looks set to be one of the players set to leave Anfield come summer.
