Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on the future of rumoured Leeds United transfer target James Milner.

What's the talk?

Transfer Focus

In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist revealed that, despite the versatile central midfielder receiving three proposals from interested clubs this summer, the 36-year-old is now set to put pen to paper on a new one-year deal with Liverpool - seeing him remain at Anfield until at least June 2023.

This is likely to come as a blow to Victor Orta and Leeds, with Joe Donnohue suggesting in a recent article for the Yorkshire Evening Post that the Whites could well have been one of the teams to make an approach for the former England international - as Jesse Marsch's side have been linked with a move for their academy graduate continuously over the past two years.

In his tweet, the transfer insider said: "James Milner received three proposals/approaches from other clubs but he always wanted to stay at Liverpool as priority. New deal will be valid until June 2023. Final details to be resolved soon then paperwork will be ready to be signed."

Supporters will be gutted

With Stuart Dallas having been ruled out of action until the turn of the new year, it is easy to see why Leeds could have been one of the clubs interested in the signing of Milner on a free this summer, as the Liverpool midfielder and the Northern Ireland international appear to be cut from the same cloth.

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Despite his game time becoming more limited with each passing season, the £1.8m-rated dynamo nevertheless remains an incredibly important part of Jurgen Klopp's squad - something the 36-year-old undoubtedly proved in 2021/22.

Indeed, according to FBref data, the £150k-per-week veteran ranks in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe's big five leagues for progressive passes per 90, as well as the top 5% for passes attempted, the top 1% for xA, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for tackles, the top 14% for blocks and the top 22% for interceptions over the last 365 days.

Aside from these impressive metrics, it is Milner's ability to operate in a number of different positions that makes him such a valuable asset, with the Englishman playing 20 games in central midfield, five in defensive midfield, four at right-back and one from left midfield over the course of the season.

This positional versatility would have very much made the former Leeds starlet a perfect replacement for the injured Dallas, who himself is adept at operating from a number of positions across the pitch, with the 31-year-old playing 15 games at left-back, 13 at right-back, six in central midfield, one in defensive midfield and one from left midfield throughout 21/22.

However, following Romano's latest update, it now would appear as if any hope Leeds may have held regarding a move for Milner this summer have now been dashed, something that is sure to come as a gutting blow to Orta, Jesse Marsch and Leeds supporters alike.

AND in other news: Orta can seal "outstanding" Raphinha replacement with Leeds bid for £72k-p/w "machine"