Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder James Milner, subject to a medical.
Personal terms have been agreed, and the 29-year-old will join on a free transfer on July 1 after his City contract expires.
Liverpool are understood to have beaten off competition from Arsenal for his signature.
The
England international will sign a long-term deal at Anfield after
winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup during his
five-year spell at the Etihad Stadium.
Milner is expected to help
fill the void left by Steven Gerrard, who is leaving after 17 years at
the club to move to LA Galaxy this summer.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes that the player could replace Gerrard as Liverpool’s captain: “I have no doubt one reason he's joining is to play in a more central role rather than out wide," Carragher wrote on Kicca.
The Sky Sports pundit
added: “The fact that [manager] Brendan Rodgers wouldn't confirm Jordan
Henderson as this season’s captain even though he was captain in
Gerrard's absence last season makes me think him and Milner could be
competing for the armband.”
City are believed to have
offered Milner improved terms to stay at the club, but he started just
18 Premier League games last season and was understood to be interested
in a move to a club that would guarantee him a regular first-team place.
Man
City skipper Vincent Kompany tweeted: "You'll be missed at City
brother, as a teammate and a friend! Your drive and passion were
inspirational."
In 32 appearances last term, Milner provided seven Premier League assists and scored five goals.
He
played 198 times in all for City after joining from Aston Villa for
£26million in 2010. He was a Leeds trainee before joining Newcastle for
£3.6m in 2004, and has 53 caps for England.
Victor Wanyama has admitted "it would be nice" to join Arsenal as
the Gunners hierarchy weigh up whether to sign a new holding midfielder.
Arsenal have been linked with Monaco midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia
and are also said to be long-term admirers of Morgan Schneiderlin, but
his Southampton team-mate has admitted he would welcome an approach from
the Gunners.
"It would be nice to move to Arsenal," Wanyama told a
Kenyan TV show. "But at this moment such decisions can only be made by
Southampton and that is where my concentration as a player is."
Arsenal's
hierarchy is split on whether a new holding midfielder is even required
this summer, according to the London Evening Standard, with some senior
figures believing Francis Coquelin has proved himself as a solution to
the team's problems but others feeling it would be a risk to rely on the
23-year-old for a full season.
As well as Kondogbia and
Schneiderlin, Arsenal have also been linked with Sporting Lisbon's
William Carvalho, Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan and Paris
Saint-Germain's Yohan Cabaye.
anchester United to offer £25m for Sterling, Arsenal want Bacca and Kondogbia, Falcao to Chelsea, Real make €60million bid...
United want Bale and Benzema (ha!), Chelsea in for Valencia and Alderweireld, Nani wanted by Inter, Dante to United for £5m...
ARSENAL (AND EVERYONE ELSE) EYE BACCA
Fresh from his match-winning performance in the Europa League final, it
seems Carlos Bacca has half of the continent on his tail.
Portuguese newspaper A Bola claims Arsenal have been watching the
Sevilla striker, who they claim could cost around £15.8million.
Reports elsewhere suggest Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool, Roma,
AC Milan, Napoli and Borussia Monchengladbach are also tracking the
Colombian, though his agent has suggested Serie A as his most likely
destination.
REAL PERSISTENT OVER VERRATTI
Despite PSG's insistence that Marco Verratti is not for sale, Real
Madrid have returned to Paris with an improved offer of 60million euros,
according to Gazzetta Dello Sport.
Real's interest pre-dates the appointment of Rafael Benitez, but the new
coach has given the green light for club to continue their pursuit of
the Italy midfielder, who would be offered six million euros a year, if
PSG can be persuaded to sell.
The same paper also claims Roma are willing to sell Gervinho and replace
the former Arsenal flop with either Juan Cuadrado or Nani.
Nani has been linked with a £7million move to Inter over recent days,
but it is claimed Roma's Champions League status makes the Italian
capital a more attractive proposition to the United winger.
Nigeria international Juwon Oshaniwa
claims he is attracting interest from several clubs in the UK, saying
Hearts are in discussions with his current side over a potential summer
move.
Shakhtar Donetsk forward Douglas Costa says it is "time for a
change" and has described Chelsea's Jose Mourinho as the best coach in
the world.
Juwon Oshaniwa: Played for Nigeria at Wo
der, who currently plays for FC Ashdod in Israel,
was linked with a move to Celtic in January and says they are still
looking at him, as well as Sky Bet Championship side Sheffield
Wednesday.
Turkish club Bursaspor are also rumoured to be monitoring his situation.
The
24-year-old played in all four of Nigeria’s World Cup matches in Brazil
in 2014, including a thrilling 3-2 defeat to eventual runners-up
Argentina.
Oshaniwa says he knows about a potential move to Hearts and would be keen to play in the UK.
“I
am aware of it. My club president confirmed the official proposal from
Hearts and let me know that talks are still on to seal the deal
alongside my agent Ladi Salami in the UK," he said.
“And more so, my agent confirmed interest of Celtic and from Sheffield Wednesday.”
Oshaniwa,
who joined Ashdod in 2012, says he is keen to leave the club this
summer in a bid to continue his football development.
He
said: “I will be so glad to leave for greener pastures to meet up with
my goal in a well-developed league to improve on the status I have got
in the world of football.
“And I am very sure I can achieve
my aim with these clubs. But sure, my mind is set and made up to leave
Ashdod in this summer’s transfer window in as much as the deal terms are
met with and sealed with any of these clubs.” True Blue? Falcao could join Chelsea this summerRadamel Falcao is trying to rush through a move to Chelsea – but the deal has hit a potential snag.
Chelsea
are understood to only be willing to take Falcao on a season-long loan
deal while Monaco would rather negotiate a permanent transfer this
summer and the two clubs are trying to thrash out an agreement.
Falcao,
29, wants any move to be resolved before Colombia start their Copa
America campaign on June 14 and is prepared to take a big cut in his
£265,000-a-week wages.
Monaco want around £35m for Falcao but
want a fixed deal in place having seen their prized asset drop in value
after a disappointing season at Manchester United.
Star: Kondogbia (left) is being tracked by a host of top clubs
Arsenal are ready to rival Inter Milan for £25million Monaco defensive midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia.
The 22-year-old France international has impressed this season in Ligue 1 and put in a dominant display as his team put the Gunners out of this season’s Champions League.
Monaco, who signed him two years ago from Sevilla, have slapped a
£25million price tag on him but that has failed to ward off interested
parties. Inter have made an enquiry and Arsenal retain an interest.
Arsene Wenger has followed Kondogbia - who still has three years left
on his contract - since his time as a teenager at Lens and during his
spell in Spain.
Although Francis Coquelin has impressed at the Emirates this season,
Kondogbia's box-to-box prowess would strengthen Arsenal’s midfield
options considerably.
Wenger remains keen on Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin but
the player is now said to favour a move to Manchester United. Chelsea are reportedly looking at possible loan deals for Radamel Falcao, who returned to Monaco following a disappointing spell at Manchester United. (Daily Star) Paul Pogba is set to snub a move to the Premier League and join Barcelona this summer, despite Manchester City being prepared to pay big money. (Daily Star) Romelu Lukaku insists that he is happy at Everton despite stating his desire to play in the Champions League. (Liverpool Echo)
PLUS: Nacho Monreal wants to sign a new deal at the Emirates, and Arsenal face competition from Chelsea for a Portuguese striker
London calling? Benzema is on Arsenal's radarHere are all the latest Gunners stories from today's Daily Mirror...
Monreal wants new deal
Nacho Monreal will snub transfer interest from Athletic Bilbao to sign a new deal at Arsenal.
The 29-year-old left-back had been targeted for a move to the Basque country with only a year of his contract remaining.
But Monreal, who started Saturday’s crushing 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup Final, says he wants to stay with the north Londoners.
The defender, signed from Malaga in 2013, said: “I have one more year on my contract and I would like to stay.
"I am very lucky to play for Arsenal, and am very happy to play for Arsenal. If the boss wants me to stay, I will - and I’d like to extend my contract.”
Gunners transfer window guide
The season has been very bizarre. Arsenal started poorly,
were woefully inconsistent in the first half of the season - and
brilliantly consistent in the run-in.
It gave a taste of what they are capable of but also reminded us of their frailties and frustrations.
If, as every manager tells us, teams should be judged over the course of a whole season then clearly Arsenal need to strengthen.
But, according to Arsene Wenger , he's seen enough in the second half of the season to revise his plans for this summer. To my mind, that is a worry.
Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain is the subject of interest from London rivals Chelsea.
That is according to the reports in Italy, which say the Blues have entered the race for the Napoli man.
Liverpool
and Manchester United have also been linked with the striker's
services, but Arsenal had thought to be the biggest suitors.
He has scored 51 times in 98 games during his time in Naples, having moved from Real Madrid in 2013.
Tottenham's Everton and Stoke transfer target Aaron Lennon set to play deadline-day chicken to get Goodison move
Spurs want £8m for winger who impressed on loan to the
Toffees last season but if they don't sell this summer they face losing
him for nothing in a year
Mission of Mersey: Lennon has no future at Spurs and wants to join Everton
Aaron Lennon is ready to hold out until the end of the summer as he eyes a permanent move to Everton. Tottenham have made it clear that they want no less than £8million for the winger, who has just a year left on his contract.
But should the north Londoners NOT sell this summer, they risk losing Lennon for nothing in 12 months’ time.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez has already admitted he wants to make the 28-year-old England international a permanent member of his squad following his successful second half of the season on loan at Goodison Park.
But Martinez has also insisted the Toffees will not be held to ransom over the player and is considering other options.
ARSENAL (AND EVERYONE ELSE) EYE BACCA 
Turkish club Bursaspor are also rumoured to be monitoring his situation.
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