James Milner still hasn’t committed to whether or not he wants to sign for Liverpool beyond his current contract.
That’s according to The Times this morning. It’s reported that Milner is ‘yet to decide’ on where he’ll be playing next season.
It’s suggested that the 36-year-old could still stay at Anfield into what would be his eighth season at the club.
Alternatively, Milner could potentially look ‘elsewhere’ for more regular playing time. A decision will needed to made soon as his contract expires at the end of this season.
Milner still getting games
It’s an inescapable fact that Milner’s playing time has drastically reduced from when he was a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield several years ago.
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In seasons past, the unheralded trio of Gini Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and Milner was the manager’s go-to. They even started the Champions League final in 2018 to no great surprise.
Should Milner be on the teamsheet in Paris in 11 days time, it would be one of the major shocks of the season.
But that doesn’t mean his time on the pitch has dropped off a cliff either. He has featured 37 times this year, one more than last year and the same as the year before that.
Given that Liverpool will have to rotate for tonight’s game against Southampton, he is surely in line to better that still.
Still needed when it really matters
Milner’s involvement in Saturday’s FA Cup final shows that he still has the trust of his manager too. He may not be starting as many games as he could elsewhere, but where else will he get the chance to have an influence on so many big games.
That’s something to midfielder will need to weigh up this off-season. It’s clear that Klopp wants him to sign for Liverpool beyond this summer. No doubt the dressing room feel the same, too.
Plenty to ponder for Milner. If it is time up for the Yorkshireman at Anfield, then what a player he has been. Going out with a second Champions League medal would be the absolute fitting way to end a trophy-laden career at the club.