With James Milner set for contract talks with Liverpool forward of the expiry of his present deal this summer time, captain Jordan Henderson has backed him to remain.
Because it stands, Milner is making ready for the ultimate recreation of his seven years with the Reds, which comes on the largest stage with a Champions League remaining towards Actual Madrid.
However whereas Divock Origi has already been given his Anfield send-off, with Jurgen Klopp main the tributes to the long-serving goalscoring legend, there was no fanfare for the No. 7.
That is because of deliberate talks with Milner over an extension to his contract that presently runs to July 1, with the membership anticipated to supply the 36-year-old a brand new one-year deal.
Whereas Milner’s minutes on the pitch are regularly lowering, he has remained an necessary participant for Klopp, making 39 appearances to this point this marketing campaign, with it clear he’s nonetheless in a position to supply loads on and off the pitch.
And talking to This Is Anfield forward of the Champions League remaining, Henderson expressed his hope that Milner would signal on for “at the very least one other yr.”
“[How valuable is his experience?] Large. The expertise Milly brings is unimaginable,” the captain stated.
“On the pitch, he’s nonetheless performing. I really feel like over the previous few weeks he’s performed he’s been wonderful within the video games.
“Clearly, he brings an terrible lot off the pitch and within the dressing room as properly.
“So he’s an enormous participant for us and this staff.
“Fingers crossed he can get it sorted and we’ll see him for at the very least one other yr subsequent yr.”
Milner was at one stage reported to be incomes round £120,000 per week at Liverpool, although having signed a brand new two-and-a-half-year contract on the finish of 2019 it’s unclear whether or not that has since modified.
Whereas that may not place him among the many membership’s highest earners – as was the case when he joined on a free switch from Man Metropolis – it’s unlikely Fenway Sports activities Group would log out on an extension on the identical phrases.
However the hope might be {that a} compromise might be discovered with a participant who has proved invaluable to Klopp’s squad, along with his affect off the pitch as essential as his enter on it.
The partnership he has struck with Henderson inside Liverpool’s management group might be troublesome to recapture with new faces, and which may be the deciding issue as supervisor and captain foyer for an prolonged keep.
