James Milner will leave Liverpool for Brighton once the current season comes to an end.
Milner has been heavily linked with a move to the South Coast once his Reds deal expires this summer. And writing on Twitter today, journalist Fabrizio Romano has given his rubber-stamp to the transfer.
“Brighton are set to sign James Milner, here we go — the final proposal and all the clauses have been accepted. Deal will be valid until June 2024,” Romano wrote.
“Milner will join Brighton on free transfer from Liverpool; second signing imminent after Joao Pedro deal completed.”
After eight years and over 300 appearances for the club, this one’s going to sting.
Milner heads to Brighton
Well, now it really is a summer of upheaval for Liverpool. For all the changes expected to take place this year, there had remained up until recently a feeling that Milner may yet survive it.
Jurgen Klopp has made no secret of his desire to see the 37-year-old stay on at Anfield. Klopp is a huge fan of Milner and has continued to use him throughout his time as manager.
But in the end, it appears that the Yorkshireman has made the decision to look for a new challenge.
With a series of new players set to arrive over the coming months, we think that’s for the best. If you’re going to wipe the slate clean and start again, then wipe the slate clean and start again. Do it properly and fully.
Liverpool have enough experience in the squad now to absorb the absence of the vice-captain and can bring in a new era without him. That doesn’t mean he won’t leave a hole, though. For one thing, a new vice-captain will have to be found. The smart money would be on Virgil van Dijk for that post.
In the meantime, all that’s left is to give Milly the send-off he’s earned over the last near-decade. Arriving and leaving at the same time as Roberto Firmino, between them they’ve marked an era at Anfield. What servants they’ve both been. A sad, but necessary day for Liverpool.
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