Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insisted that there was no new update on the contract extension front for veteran midfielder James Milner.
The 36-year-old’s current deal at Anfield is due to expire at the end of the season and there had been talk of late doing the rounds that Liverpool could be in line to offer him a one-year extension.
Despite initial negotiations understood to be underway over his next steps, the German coach has made clear, as quoted by reports from The Liverpool Echo, that an agreement is not currently in place and wants talks to remain private with the player’s camp.
“It’s no secret that James is in the last year of his current deal – and again – I emphasise ‘current’.
“I spoke recently about ‘talks’ taking place to extend his stay with us and I thought it might make sense to use this platform to clarify that as I’ve seen some misleading reporting around it.
“By talks I mean I indicated my wish that James stays with us beyond this season, in a playing capacity. James will keep playing, he has told me this. So he should, by the way.
“The level he is at, physically, technically and in terms of personal desire and hunger for more, means he should play on for as long as that lasts.
“I hope it will be here and that is what I have told those at the club who take on these tasks.
“It’s not fair or right to then jump to the conclusion that an offer has been made, because I don’t think that’s fair on James.
“I know I don’t normally go into this much detail on matters such as this, but given how conscientious James is when it comes to not putting private things into the public domain, I wanted to make the actual position clear.
“As should be the case, these things will get picked up in private and James will keep doing for us what he has done during my entire time working with him.
“He gives his all, he helps the collective and he sets the standards. We are all very blessed to have him at our club.”
The Reds had lost out on their long-serving midfield general Gini Wijnaldum last summer with the Holland international making the move to Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
Also Read – Gini Wijnaldum squares the blame on Liverpool for his exit
Klopp, meanwhile, is tipped to dip into the transfer market come the upcoming summer for a new midfield signing to shore up his options in the centre of the park.
