Latest reports from Birmingham Mail indicates that James Milner wants a return to Leeds United if they gain promotion to the Premier League by next season. Liverpool are yet to offer him a new deal, and Milner can probably turn out at his boyhood club before hanging up his boots from football.
The 33-year-old has gone from strength to strength and still looks like an integral member of the Liverpool squad. Even with all the talents the Merseyside club have at their disposal, Milner has managed to make 23 appearances in all competitions this season. Jurgen Klopp still uses him in the big games for his experience and reliability.
The former Leeds man is an epitome of professionalism as he has always kept the team’s interest first ahead of his own. At Manchester City, the midfielder often played in various positions across the pitch and never got many chances to play in his preferred central midfield position. Even at Liverpool, he spent a whole season playing as a left back so a signing like him could still offer a lot at Elland Road.
Even at 33, Milner covers a lot of ground as Liverpool play one of the most demanding brands of football at the moment as they defend in numbers and attack the same way meaning the midfielders have to run up and down the pitch constantly.
Marcelo Bielsa is also doing something similar at Leeds United, and the Whites are well placed to move to the Premier League through a direct promotion spot. They might have suffered three back to back defeats now, but they still look in line to secure promotion.
Milner’s experience and ability can come in handy for the Whites, and it would be poetic for the midfielder to turn out at the club when they move to the Premier League after so many years. Given his high level of fitness, he should fit right into Bielsa’s system, and the former ballboy at Elland Road could sign off his footballing career from where it all began.
However, even though Liverpool are not known to offer new deals to players who are in their thirties, maybe they can make an exception in Milner’s case given the importance he still holds in this current Liverpool lineup. But if the player himself wishes to move, then we believe, the Reds would let him join his boyhood club. The Whites would hope that the stars would align perfectly by the upcoming summer so that they can see their prodigal son back at Elland Road.
