Brighton eye James Milner summer move from Liverpool

Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly preparing to sign Liverpool midfielder James Milner as a free agent this summer. The 37-year-old’s contract with the Reds is set to expire at the end of the season, and despite Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressing his desire to keep him, Milner has not been offered a new deal yet.

David Ornstein of The Athletic has reported that Brighton are determined to bring James Milner to the Amex Stadium and have evaluated the matter internally. Meanwhile, newly promoted Burnley are also thought to be interested in the Englishman, who played alongside Burnley’s manager Vincent Kompany at Manchester City.

However, Premier League teams are not allowed to make approaches for an out-of-contract player until the end of the campaign, so any potential move for Milner would have to wait until then. Klopp is known to be a huge admirer of the veteran midfielder, who is also keen to extend his eight-year stay at Anfield.

In March, Klopp told reporters that Milner was keen to continue playing at the highest level and referred to him as an “incredibly important player”. Klopp also praised Milner’s mindset and character, saying that even though there might be more fancy players out there, Milner’s mindset makes him incredibly valuable for Liverpool.

Milner has made 129 appearances for Liverpool and helped the club win the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. If he moves to Brighton or Burnley this summer, it would be his first time playing for a Premier League club other than Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool.