With the season coming to an end, many teams are already planning their summer transfer raids, vast amounts of money will change hands and players will be moving to pastures new. However, one player that will require no transfer fee should be the top of everyone’s wish list; James Milner.

With his contract running towards its conclusion, Manchester City are still yet to tie down the versatile midfielder and with him struggling to hold down a consistent place in Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI; it now seems inevitable that the 29-year-old will be leaving The Etihad.

Signed initially as an attacking midfielder, Milner has rediscovered himself as a more defensive player. In the recent Manchester derby he was tasked with man marking and marshalling the influential Michael Carrick, after a positive start the City man was over run, but his performance was one of the more impressive in a blue shirt.

In a difficult season for City, Milner has managed to go about his business well, with limited game-time, Milner has managed to put in a series of impressive players which should lead to his current team’s competitors watching his movements closely.

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Several teams have been linked with the midfielder, with both Arsenal and Liverpool potential suitors. Steven Gerrard’s departure means of course that Anfield will be in need of a new midfield general, James Milner, could and should be that man. Signing him would be a real statement from Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers and could help them to replicate the form they showed in their campaign where they came so close to winning the title.

The player has reportedly suggested his preferred move would be one to The Emirates, for all of the craft and guile of Ozil and Sanchez, Arsenal have been missing that bit of bite to turn them form top four stalwarts to genuine title contenders. It has arguably been a decade since Wenger has had a midfielder to build his team around, Milner could be one that is the heartbeat of an Arsenal team.

James Milner has always struggled to be truly valued at City, he has been in and out of the team and never given a real run. His next move should be one to a team that treats him as the great player he is.

Milner’s move purportedly hinges on who is willing to give him a four year deal; any team that has genuine aspirations to be title challengers should be sharpening their pencils and writing up the contracts immediately. He has been underused  by his current club and his ability should not be overlooked by potential clubs.

At 29 Milner still appears he has a lot of football, and running left him in yet and with no transfer fee it is a no-brainer. As managers begin to chalk up their list of new recruits James Milner should be on the top of every one of them, he could be the transfer steal of the summer and expect the battle for his signature to be his intense.

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