OPINION
James Milner could be in his final year as a Liverpool player after it was reported that Fenway Sports Group do not tend to offer long-term deals to players over the age of 30.
According to the Daily Mail, the 33-year-old has just one year remaining on his contract at Anfield and the club are yet to approach him over new terms.
It is understood that FSG’s stance might mean Milner will not get a new contract, which would mean that this could be his last season as a Liverpool player.
Despite this, the former Newcastle and Manchester City player is still keen on agreeing new terms with the Merseyside club.
“Last year we spoke to the club and asked them if they wanted to do something and they said not,” he said, as quoted by the Mail.
“We haven’t heard anything since, so that’s where we are at.
“There are three things to it: availability, fitness and performance level. Hopefully I am delivering all three.”.
It has to be worrying for Milner that Liverpool are so willing to let his contract run down, but at the same time, the club’s stance is what it is and it would make more sense to offer him a new deal once he gets closer to the end of his current one.
As the ex-Leeds man says, if he doesn’t perform well next season or struggles to stay fit, why should Liverpool extend his stay?
It would be a shame to see Milner leave Liverpool in 2020, but he has started to have a reduced role in Jurgen Klopp’s plans.
Last season saw the midfielder make 45 appearances across all competitions for the Reds as he scored seven goals and supplied seven assists in the process.
However he started just 19 times in the Premier League in the 2018/19 season and only really slotted in to help with squad rotation and cover his injured team-mates.
Milner is a useful player to have but he will turn 34-years-old in January and if Liverpool offer him an extension, he will celebrate his 35th birthday on Merseyside.
With FSG’s reported stance on contracts for players over the age of 30, it has to be a worrying time for Milner.
