James Milner: Midfielder will sign a long-term deal with Liverpool after the expiry of his Manchester City contract on July 1
Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder James Milner, subject to a medical.
Personal terms have been agreed, and the 29-year-old will join on a free transfer on July 1 after his City contract expires.
Liverpool are understood to have beaten off competition from Arsenal for his signature.
The England international will sign a long-term deal at
Anfield after winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League
Cup during his five-year spell at the Etihad Stadium.
Milner is
expected to help fill the void left by Steven Gerrard, who is leaving
after 17 years at the club to move to LA Galaxy this summer.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes that the player could replace Gerrard as Liverpool’s captain: “I have no doubt one reason he's joining is to play in a more central role rather than out wide," Carragher wrote on Kicca.
James Milner (R) could be competing with Jordan
Henderson (L) for the Liverpool captaincy next season
The Sky Sports pundit
added: “The fact that [manager] Brendan Rodgers wouldn't confirm Jordan
Henderson as this season’s captain even though he was captain in
Gerrard's absence last season makes me think him and Milner could be
competing for the armband.”
City are believed to have
offered Milner improved terms to stay at the club, but he started just
18 Premier League games last season and was understood to be interested
in a move to a club that would guarantee him a regular first-team place.
Man
City skipper Vincent Kompany tweeted: "You'll be missed at City
brother, as a teammate and a friend! Your drive and passion were
inspirational."
Milner scored five goals in 32 Premier League appearances for Manchester City last season
In 32 appearances last term, Milner provided seven Premier League assists and scored five goals.
He
played 198 times in all for City after joining from Aston Villa for
£26million in 2010. He was a Leeds trainee before joining Newcastle for
£3.6m in 2004, and has 53 caps for England.