Liverpool will sign James Milner and eye Man City teammate Stevan Jovetic
LIVERPOOL are convinced they have won the race to sign James Milner and are already planning more signings this summer.
By Steve Morgan and Steve Millar / Published 25th April 2015
Arsenal and Roma are also in the race to sign the Manchester City star, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
But an Anfield source described it as a "done deal" that Milner will choose the Reds instead.
The 29-year-old has been promised that he will get the chance to play in his preferred midfield role at Liverpool and that appears to have swayed him.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini has repeatedly stated he expects Milner to sign a new contract at the Etihad.
But Liverpool officials are confident he has decided to turn his back on City and look for a new start on Merseyside.
Liverpool first tried to sign Milner from Aston Villa in 2010 but he snubbed them to join City in a £26m transfer.
Milner has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup at City but is unhappy with his role in the team.
KOP DEAL: Milner looks certain to join Liverpool [GETTY]
Liverpool could offer him the chance to partner Jordan Henderson, who has just signed a new deal, in exactly that position following Steven Gerrard's decision to quit the club.
Brendan Rodgers has also earmarked Stevan Jovetic as his No.1 striker target but insists he won't spend, spend, spend in a bid to capture Champions League football next season.
There will be no repeat of last summer when the Liverpool boss went cash crazy, splashing £116 million on nine new signings.
Rodgers has identified just three positions he needs to address - goalkeeper, a central midfielder and a striker with Manchester City hit-man Jovetic a £16 million target.
The Kop chief tried to sign Jovetic before he joined City almost two years ago and was hugely impressed how the Montenegro international handled himself when preliminary moves were made.
Rodgers has never lost interest and with Jovetic failing to establish himself under Etihad boss Manuel Pellegrini the time would now be right to bring the proven striker to Anfield.
It's been reported that PSV Eindhoven goal-getter Memphis Depay flew to Liverpool last week for secret talks but either Manchester United or City will be his next destination.
Rodgers insists that Liverpool demand quality and not quantity for next season with captain marvel Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Brad Jones leading the list of players heading for the exit.
Iago Aspas, Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert, Sebastian Coates and Luis Alberto are expected to follow.
But Rodgers is keeping a tight grip on the purse strings to find his limited replacements.
Rodgers said: "The likes of Stevie are moving on and that's something we have to deal with. But I think the nucleus of the squad will hopefully be the same next season.
"We need to bring in a few players to improve the starting eleven but it certainly won't be as many as last summer. It will be more settled.
"We have to look to improve the team and that's going to be critical for us."
LIVERPOOL are convinced they have won the race to sign James Milner and are already planning more signings this summer.
By Steve Morgan and Steve Millar / Published 25th April 2015
Arsenal and Roma are also in the race to sign the Manchester City star, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
But an Anfield source described it as a "done deal" that Milner will choose the Reds instead.
The 29-year-old has been promised that he will get the chance to play in his preferred midfield role at Liverpool and that appears to have swayed him.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini has repeatedly stated he expects Milner to sign a new contract at the Etihad.
But Liverpool officials are confident he has decided to turn his back on City and look for a new start on Merseyside.
Liverpool first tried to sign Milner from Aston Villa in 2010 but he snubbed them to join City in a £26m transfer.
Milner has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup at City but is unhappy with his role in the team.
KOP DEAL: Milner looks certain to join Liverpool [GETTY]
“We need to bring in a few players to improve the starting eleven but it certainly won't be as many as last summer. It will be more settled”
Brendan Rodgers
He has often been overlooked in big games and has rarely been used in his favoured position of central midfield.Brendan Rodgers
Liverpool could offer him the chance to partner Jordan Henderson, who has just signed a new deal, in exactly that position following Steven Gerrard's decision to quit the club.
Brendan Rodgers has also earmarked Stevan Jovetic as his No.1 striker target but insists he won't spend, spend, spend in a bid to capture Champions League football next season.
There will be no repeat of last summer when the Liverpool boss went cash crazy, splashing £116 million on nine new signings.
Rodgers has identified just three positions he needs to address - goalkeeper, a central midfielder and a striker with Manchester City hit-man Jovetic a £16 million target.
The Kop chief tried to sign Jovetic before he joined City almost two years ago and was hugely impressed how the Montenegro international handled himself when preliminary moves were made.
Rodgers has never lost interest and with Jovetic failing to establish himself under Etihad boss Manuel Pellegrini the time would now be right to bring the proven striker to Anfield.
It's been reported that PSV Eindhoven goal-getter Memphis Depay flew to Liverpool last week for secret talks but either Manchester United or City will be his next destination.
Rodgers insists that Liverpool demand quality and not quantity for next season with captain marvel Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Brad Jones leading the list of players heading for the exit.
Iago Aspas, Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert, Sebastian Coates and Luis Alberto are expected to follow.
But Rodgers is keeping a tight grip on the purse strings to find his limited replacements.
Rodgers said: "The likes of Stevie are moving on and that's something we have to deal with. But I think the nucleus of the squad will hopefully be the same next season.
"We need to bring in a few players to improve the starting eleven but it certainly won't be as many as last summer. It will be more settled.
"We have to look to improve the team and that's going to be critical for us."
