Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is personally pushing the board to offer James Milner a contract extension, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Out of contract
The Premier League giants have Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, Arthur Melo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adrian all out of contract this summer alongside the 37-year-old.
The Reds midfielder is the most experienced player at Anfield having served 21 seasons in the English top-flight, but with age and experience eventually comes the end of a career, when the physical side of things becomes too much to handle.
The Mirror recently reported that England’s former international has the ball in his court when it comes to deciding whether to put pen to paper on fresh terms, but it would appear that the boss has already made his stance crystal clear.
The Latest: Milner set to stay?
According to Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, Klopp is ‘pushing the board’ to place a new deal on the table for Milner at the end of the season.
The German is claimed to be a ‘huge admirer’ of his veteran and is trying his best to get the hierarchy to ‘replicate’ the one-year extension offer that was made to him last summer.
The Merseyside manager views his star’s on and off the field presence to be ‘crucial’ to his side’s dressing room atmosphere and thinks it would be a ‘huge loss’ should he depart.
Negotiations are ‘yet to be opened’, but it’s stated that FSG are ‘optimistic’ that an agreement can be reached should talks eventually take place.
The Verdict: Fully deserved
Milner has been dubbed a ‘workhorse’ by journalist Leanne Prescott and Liverpool offering him an extension would be nothing less than he deserves, even despite his age.
The Wortley-born talent has clocked up 72 goal contributions in 321 Anfield appearances, with this being the club he’s spent the longest period of time at throughout his career (Transfermarkt).
The Reds talisman is also strong in the defensive aspect of his game, where he currently ranks in the 92nd percentile for most blocks and the 86th percentile for most tackles made per game (FBRef).
Manchester City’s former ace offers excellent versatility having already operated in five different positions this season whilst doing an impressive job at right-back when filling in for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Finally, Milner is Liverpool’s vice-captain and possesses some amazing leadership qualities alongside Jordan Henderson, so it would be a massive coup should they get him to commit his future.