Jurgen Klopp could lose ‘incredibly important’ Liverpool player amid contract uncertainty

Jurgen Klopp could lose an ‘incredibly important’ Liverpool player due to contract uncertainty

James Milner is out of contract in the summer and reports suggest Liverpool are yet to negotiate with the midfielder

Liverpool are yet to open contract talks with midfielder James Milner as the 37-year-old enters the final months of his current Anfield contract, according to a report.

Jürgen Klopp has expressed his admiration for the former Leeds and Aston Villa player after joining Merseyside from Manchester City under former manager Brendan Rodgers. Since the German’s arrival, Milner has been part of the squad that has won the Premier League, Champions League and both domestic cups in England.

David Ornstein writes that there remains a possibility the veteran would join the likes of Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who are on the verge of finalizing their terms with Liverpool.

The report goes on to say that club officials accept he will sign for another club unless a new deal is agreed with the Reds. “We have other plans with Milly, but Milly wants to keep playing,” Klopp said previously. “And when you see him play last night (against Wolves), I think everyone gets it. You can’t judge him by his age or anything.

“He’s 37, but it doesn’t look like that on a day like that. When she’s training, she’s there at full throttle. He’s an incredibly important player, it showed on the pitch. It’s not like Milly expects to play 64 games a season, but at 64 games a season Milly could be incredibly important.

“It’s true. I think Milly has played 600 games in his career, right? And I think most of them are for Liverpool, if I’m right, probably. So even a player who had few clubs can end up in his club and I can consider Liverpool as his club.

“I’m pretty sure the club should use his character and mentality and he was really special. There could be more great players but nobody with a similar mentality and that makes him incredibly important to us. And it’s not because I’m too loyal It’s just a fact.