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Liverpool are prepared to bend their own rules about offering new contracts to players over the age of 30 to try and extend the deal of James Milner.
The 33 year old is out of contract next June, and will be free to talk to foreign clubs in a little over three months’ time but so important does Jurgen Klopp regard Milner to his short-term plans, that he wants to tie him down to a new deal. The German said after the Carabao Cup defeat of MK Dons in midweek that “He is incredibly important for us and that is how it is.
‘It should not be a surprise he is like, this. It is an important time for him of course and we will see how we deal with that. Nobody is nervous. We are in talks constantly but there is nothing for the public at the moment.’
Milner is one of the rare breed of players who has made more than 500 Premier League appearances, but he is in such good physical condition that he could yet challenge Gareth Barry’s all-time record of 653 games in the top flight.
In a career that has taken in Leeds United, Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Manchester City before moving to Anfield, the former England international has demonstrated the hard work and consistency that has made him such a valued member of Klopp’s squad and, even if Liverpool do not offer him a new contract, he will not lack for offers next summer.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.