Veteran English midfielder James Milner, who is in the final leg of his contract with Liverpool, is reportedly on the radars of French champions PSG.
According to a report from French publication Le Parisien, Liverpool midfielder James Milner has emerged as a shock transfer target for European heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, with his contract set to run out at the end of next month.
Milner joined Liverpool from rivals Manchester City on a free transfer in the summer of 2015 and has grown into a key squad member under Jurgen Klopp. Till date, the 33-year-old has made 176 appearances for the Merseyside giants netting 22 goals and setting up 36 more.
The 2018-19 campaign has seen Milner take the field on 44 occasions across all competitions, coming up with a return of seven goals and assists apiece, playing an important role in Liverpool finishing second in the Premier League and making it to the UEFA Champions League final for the second season in a row.
However, Milner has just a little over one month left on his contract with Liverpool and there haven’t been any reports of negotiations over a new deal. This would mean that the former England international could become a free agent in a month’s time, which has put French champions PSG on high-alert.
The 2018-19 season was bit of a mixed bag for PSG as they romped home to the Ligue 1 title again, but failed to make a mark in the Champions League, while also falling short in the domestic cup competitions as well. Manager Thomas Tuchel is keen on strengthening his ranks ahead of the next term, with midfield being a key area of concern for the German.
PSG are set to lose talented Frenchman Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer this summer, while January signing Leandro Paredes has struggled to make much of an impact since joining the club. This has left Les Parisiens with just Marco Verratti as a reliable option in the centre of the park, leading to them scouring the market for reinforcements.
PSG are believed to be signing Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera whose contract with Manchester United is set to expire. The report also adds that they have their eyes on Napoli midfield mainstay Allan, but are apprehensive about the Brazilian’s price tag, with the Partenopei demanding a transfer fee in the range of €80-90 million.
This has led them to consider the possibility of making a swoop for Liverpool star Milner, who will be available on a free transfer should he not sign a new contract with the Reds. The 33-year-old would add valuable experience and leadership to this PSG midfield, something that they have lacked since Thiago Motta’s retirement.
However, given how much Klopp and Liverpool value the Englishman, it is unlikely that they would want to let go of him in the summer. The Merseysiders are currently focused on their UEFA Champions League final encounter against Tottenham this weekend and a contract extension could very well be announced once that is out of the way.
