Newcastle United reportedly couldn’t seal a deal for James Milner over the summer.
According to The Mirror, Liverpool will refuse to sell midfielder James Milner in January, depsite his lack of playing time so far this season.
Milner, 31, was a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s side last season, as he featured prominently in an unfamiliar left back role, notching seven goals and three assists in the Premier League.
However, with Alberto Moreno impressing at left back this term and Klopp having a host of midfield options, Milner has been on the fringes of the Liverpool side.
His starting role in the 7-0 Champions League over Maribor this week was just his third start in all competitions this season, but he did turn in a superb performance in Slovenia.
Milner’s bit-part role has led to speculation over his future, and The Independent claimed this week that Newcastle United actually held talks with Liverpool over a summer deal, but the move fell apart after the Reds wouldn’t let him go for free.
Now, The Mirror report that Liverpool will refuse to let Milner leave in January, as Klopp allegedly believes that he can still play a major role in the Reds side over the course of this season.
That means that Newcastle’s hopes of bringing Milner back may be over for the time being, especially given that the former England international still has a number of years left on his Anfield contract.
Yet, if Milner doesn’t get a bigger role before the summer transfer window, he may well feel that his time with the club is up – and the Magpies should be keeping close tabs on his situation in 2018.
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