Liverpool midfielder James Milner is weighing up whether to stay at the club for another season.
According to The Athletic, Milner has a ‘heavily incentivised’ contract offer on the table from Liverpool.
However, the 36-year-old is yet to commit to signing that offer. Milner is reportedly evaluating if he should pursue a move that would guarantee more game time.
As well as the offer from Liverpool, it’s claimed that the former England international is ‘not short of options’ elsewhere.
Summer upheaval at Anfield
It has felt a long time since Liverpool went into a summer transfer window with so much business to sort out.
As it stands, most of that business is in regards to nailing down current players future’s, one way or another.
Milner’s situation is the only one which is immediately pressing in that respect. Liverpool’s number seven is the only first-team player, other than Divock Origi, who’s contract ends this month.
Unlike Origi, Milner’s career at Liverpool has neither been pronounced dead or alive.
It seems as though the final decision on the contract will come from Milner himself. Jurgen Klopp is reportedly keen for him to stay, and there’s obviously a willingness from the owners to secure his services for another year, too.
There’s no word on whether the offer matches his current reported wage of £150k-a-week. But should he walk away in search of more regular football, no-one would begrudge him that.
Seeing the Yorkshireman leave Anfield after seven years would be a wrench. Wirth Origi already gone, and Sadio Mane possibly to follow, Liverpool could lose three players who’ve been at the club for almost all of Klopp’s reign.
If Milner does decide to stay, he will once again provide a driving force in the dressing room. As his career enters its autumn though, he has to choose whether he wants a bit more than that.