This week is shaping up to be an important week in the future of Liverpool football club, with first the news of Brendan Rodgers’ meeting with Tom Werner and Mike Gordon, and now news emerging that the club are on the verge of completing the signature of James Milner.
The Independent report that a pre-contract agreement could be announced as early as the end of the week, in a deal that should be seen as a massive boost for the club, with Milner being one of Liverpool’s biggest targets as they prepare for life after Steven Gerrard.
The Telegraph have also noted that a verbal agreement is in place for the 29-year-old midfielder.
The ever-reliable Paul Joyce of The Express has claimed that Milner will earn £150,000-a-week at Anfield, which is a significant improvement on his current City deal, though short of the £165,000 per week which the 2013-14 Premier League champions offered the player to stay at the club.
His arrival while at the peak of his career would add both seniority and depth to a squad that has looked void of both qualities in recent months.
Although his wages would be high, and represent a significant investment in the player himself, this is often the case in the event of a free transfer, as the larger wage can be offset against the fact that there is no transfer fee.
Liverpool are also confident in finalising the capture of two more new recruits in Danny Ings and Nathaniel Clyne.
Ings, another free transfer, looks to be a matter of when, not if, with the player himself expressing a desire to join Liverpool.
Clyne’s transfer would more likely be a more drawn out affair than the previous players mentioned, as his current club Southampton are looking for a fee in the region of £15 million for the defender.
Yet with his contract only having a year left to run, realistically we can expect that fee to be closer to £12 million being paid if Liverpool eventually land the player.
Finally, the Liverpool Echo report that the Reds still hold a firm interest in Christian Benteke, yet will not be paying the rumoured £32.5 million fee that has been reported in some quarters.
The Aston Villa forward has been in fine form this calendar year which has seen interest in him grow, with the likes of Manchester United interested in the player and his current club ready to offer him a bumper deal to stay at Villa Park.
