James Milner edging closer to Manchester City exit

Manchester City are running out of time to tie James Milner down to a new deal, with the two parties still a long way off reaching an agreement and the England international weighing up three proposals from clubs in Spain and Italy, including a particularly attractive pre-contact offer he would be free to sign this month.

While there is no guarantee that Milner will accept any of the opportunities in front of him at the moment – any pre-contract agreement with an overseas club would need to be signed before the end of the window – the chances of the midfielder remaining at City are receding by the week. Arsenal and Liverpool remain the most likely suitors if Milner chooses to remain in the Premier League when his contract expires in the summer.

City have not yet given up hope of keeping Milner, who joined them from Aston Villa in a €34 deal in 2010. Club officials met with Milner’s representatives last week and they are not a million miles apart when it comes to an agreement on the figures put forward in the proposed contract.

For Milner, however, the financial package is not going to determine where and when he signs his next deal. If the former Leeds trainee leaves on a free transfer at the end of the season, he will be well remunerated wherever he goes.

The burning issue, in Milner’s eyes, is what happens on the pitch over the next few years. He turned 29 earlier this month and, in short, wants to play every week.

Milner gets on well with manager Manuel Pellegrini, but is frustrated with the amount of playing time that he has had under the Chilean and Roberto Mancini before. Although Milner has featured more regularly this season – he has started 11 Premier League games so far compared to 12 in the whole of the previous campaign – he is aware that injuries to key players, including Samir Nasri, Yaya Touré and David Silva, have helped his cause. When everyone is fit, Milner knows he is not a mandatory pick.

Allay concerns

Being substituted at half-time on Sunday, in the 2-0 home defeat against Arsenal, was a big disappointment and will have done nothing to allay Milner’s concerns about how he is viewed at City, especially as Nasri was injured for that match and Touré away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Pellegrini has spoken warmly about Milner’s attributes on plenty of occasions and often expressed his wish to hold onto the player. Yet there was bemusement among Milner’s camp when the City manager intimated earlier this month that an agreement between the club and player was imminent. “I hope that James will stay here and he will sign his contract in the next few days,” Pellegrini said following the 1-1 draw at Everton.

While the prospect of playing abroad is appealing, and the formal offer that has been tabled in the last fortnight from a top European club has provided food for thought, Milner has more to take into consideration since becoming a father last year and it may well be that he arrives at the decision that the timing is not right to venture overseas.

All of which will encourage Arsenal and Liverpool. Guardian Service