Sources: Everton’s James Milner offer rejected
Everton made a late move to try and sign James Milner but saw their offer rejected by the Liverpool veteran, sources have told Football Insider.
The 37-year-old is out of contract at Anfield this summer and is set to leave the Merseyside club for free after failing to negotiate a new deal with the Reds.
It is understood that the Toffees offered Milner a lucrative contract to move to Goodison Park, but he turned down the proposal in favour of joining Brighton.
Football Insider sources revealed on Friday (5 May) that Milner has verbally agreed to join the Seagulls at the end of the season.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side moved quickly to contact Milner and a deal is now expected to be signed imminently between the two parties.
Despite his age, Milner was swarmed with offers from Premier League clubs, with Leeds United, Burnley and Nottingham Forest also interested in signing him.
But the Liverpool midfielder was tempted most by a move to the south coast, with this site’s sources revealing that ex-Reds star Adam Lallana also had a key role in Milner’s decision.
Milner will leave Anfield having helped the club to win the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Fifa Club World Cup during his eight-year stay.
He has made 329 appearances for the Reds, scoring 26 goals and registering 46 assists across all competitions.
Milner’s rejection is a blow for Everton, who will likely have to target the free-agent market to bolster their squad in the summer after being charged with breaching Financial Fair Play rules by the Premier League.
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