Liverpool captain James Milner… How does that read?
The Reds have announced that Milner will arrive from Manchester City for £0, subject to a medical.
The 29-year-old is expected to pen a lucrative deal with Liverpool and has immediately been installed as favourite to captain the side next season.
Initially it was reported that the contract would be worth £150,000 a week to Milner, but there have been some suggestions that the weekly wage may be less than that with the club captaincy thrown in to sweeten the deal.
Following the departure of Steven Gerrard, to LA Galaxy, the club are seeking a box-to-box midfielder and a new captain. Milner, many at the club believe, ticks both of those boxes.
Capped 53 times by England, Milner won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup during his five-year stint with City.
He started his professional career as a 16-year-old, with Leeds United, before moving on to Newcastle United then Aston Villa. In 24 appearances against Liverpool, Milner has been on the losing side 13 times.
The other candidates are Jordan Henderson, who was seen as the heir apparent to Gerrard, and defender Martin Skrtel.
Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher believes the captaincy carrot was dangled in front of Milner. Indeed, City were reported to have offered Milner a contract of £160,000 so the added fillip of leading the Reds out at Anfield may have swayed his decision.
