By Darren Bent

8th Oct, 2019 | 11:59am

'What a story that would be' - Exclusive: Darren Bent reacts as PL player plots joining Leeds

Darren Bent claims that it looks almost inevitable that Liverpool midfielder James Milner will end his career at Leeds United as he eyes up a return to Elland Road before he hangs up his boots.

The former Aston Villa and England striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, says that the Whites are the only club that Milner could really join to produce a fitting end to his time as a player, having won every domestic trophy available as well as the Champions League.

As revealed by Football Insider, Milner is open to taking a pay cut as he plots to seal a move back to his boyhood side, although it could come after 2021 as he discusses a new contract deal with Liverpool.

Bent says there is no other club which could offer Milner as fitting an end to his days as a player, suggesting he could still offer Marcelo Bielsa and his men an awful lot at the age of 35.

Bent told Football Insider: “When you’ve got somebody who’s had a decorated career like he has, there’s only one place he can return. He was Leeds’ youngest every goalscorer, they love him down there.

“He doesn’t need the money, the money’s out of it, he’s won all the trophies – I almost said bar the Champions League but he’s won that, he’s won everything there is to win. It is fitting for him to go back there and play where it all started and finish his career there.

“He might become captain, he’s obviously going to do a job at a very, very high level, what a story that would be. I’m sure Bielsa would welcome him with open arms. That experience, he keeps himself in great nick, it wouldn’t surprise me if he did return there.”

Milner, who was born in Leeds and came through the youth system at Elland Road, played 50 times for the Whites before moving to Newcastle United, with spells at Aston Villa and Manchester City before joining Liverpool on a free transfer.

He sits sixth in the all-time Premier League appearances list with 523 and could overtake Gary Speed into fifth with another 13 outings this season.

In other Leeds United news, Darren Bent has made a bold claim about Gaetano Berardi after his sending off against Millwall.