Pundit drops ‘outrageous’ James Milner claim amid behind-the-scenes Liverpool news
It is not surprising that Liverpool have offered James Milner a new deal given his ‘outrageous’ fitness levels.
That is the view of former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about Milner’s future at Anfield.
Football Insider sources revealed on 19 March that Jurgen Klopp is pushing the Liverpool board behind the scenes to offer Milner a new one-year deal.
The 37-year-old is currently spending his eighth year in Merseyside after joining the Reds from Man City in 2015.
He has played 1,099 minutes in 32 appearances for Liverpool this season across all competitions, including a cameo in all eight of their Champions League games.
The Mirror revealed prior to the start of the 2022/23 campaign that Milner has won Liverpool’s annual fitness tests for seven successive seasons.
McManus believes Milner’s fitness, leadership and versatility are all key characteristics that Klopp will want to keep around his dressing room.
“I’m not too surprised that Liverpool want to extend Milner’s deal,” McManus told Football Insider.
“I think his age, at 37, should make it surprising but I think he’s probably the fittest 37-year-old on the planet.
“If you look at him, his fitness is outrageous and he’s just as fit as he was 10 years ago – I think age is just a number for him.
“So I think even at 37 he’s probably fitter than many of the other midfielders in that squad.
“He’s obviously a leader in that Liverpool dressing room and the manager trusts him.
“He’d do well to ignore the noise about his age and focus on his football because he is super fit and still has another year in him.
“His versatility is also brilliant for Klopp, and he’s happy to be a squad player.
“I don’t see any problem with it.“
In other news, Liverpool chiefs ‘frustrated’ by £250m demand as new deal proposed