James Milner has been tipped to sign for his boyhood club Leeds United in the near future by former Premier LEague forward Darren Bent.
Speaking to Football Insider, the former Aston Villa man sees it as inevitable that Milner joins up with Leeds again before hanging up his boots.
“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,” Bent said.
“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.”
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While Milner is still capable of playing at the level he finds himself, I think he’ll stay with Liverpool. This summer, I think he’ll sign a one-year deal.
At the end of said contract, for me, the least surprising result would be for him to sign a short-term contract with Leeds before considering retirement.
Milner will be approaching 35 when he signs for Leeds, in this scenario, but it honestly wouldn’t surprise me to see him still playing at 38 or even 40.
The man is an absolute athlete and a model professional – he’ll only stop playing once he wants to stop, his fitness won’t let him down.