Jurgen Klopp reportedly believes that there could be a future at Liverpool for James Milner despite the veteran midfielder’s contract expiring at the end of this season.
According to journalist Paul Joyce, there’s a growing chance that the veteran Premier League star could stay at Anfield for another year despite the expectation being that Milner would leave Liverpool this summer after eight seasons at the club.
Aged 37 and earning a reported £140,000-a-week, Milner moving on would have made a lot of sense on multiple levels for Liverpool this summer. However, Klopp’s decision to now be open on the midfielder remaining on Merseyside is an unexpected one.
As we know, Liverpool are in need of a midfield overhaul in the upcoming transfer window, with Milner one of the players in need of being replaced despite the former Manchester City man hardly putting a foot wrong during his eight years at the club.
Indeed, Milner staying at Liverpool on a reduced salary could be a good thing in the short-term for some supporters, with the veteran clearly a favourite in the dressing room and an influential figure for the younger players in the squad. However, a departure could do more good for the club.
Milner staying at Liverpool could hold the club back another year
Refreshing the entire midfield is Liverpool’s number one goal this summer, with the Reds in need of numerous departures and some world-class signings to get the engine room working again, and whilst Milner offers a lot, the 37-year-old staying at the club could be a bad thing.
As we know, the midfielder has been expected to leave for the majority of the season, and going back on this could lead to many fans being disgruntled with the management at Liverpool, who are already walking on ice based on how this season has played out.