Imagine, if you will, David Ornstein from The Athletic revealing a juicy tidbit: Brighton, with a glint in their eye, are revving their engines for a daring manoeuvre to snatch Liverpool’s midfield veteran, James Milner, as he saunters into the great unknown of free agency this summer.
At the grand age of 37, Milner’s contract at Liverpool is teetering on the edge of oblivion. Despite Jurgen Klopp’s fervent desire to hold onto his seasoned stalwart, the club’s high command appear to be stalling on the presentation of a sparkling new contract.
As you’re no doubt aware, Premier League clubs are forbidden from waltzing in with offers for out-of-contract players until the season’s final whistle has sounded. Nevertheless, Brighton have been secretly plotting and scheming in the shadows, intent on enticing Milner to the gleaming shores of the Amex Stadium.
But hold your horses! Newly-promoted Burnley have also tossed their cap into the fray, eager to reinforce their ranks after muscling their way back into the Premier League. And who better to charm Milner into staying put in the north-west than their esteemed leader, Vincent Kompany, a one-time fellow warrior from their Manchester City escapades?
Brighton, however, believe that Milner could be the missing link, injecting their squad with a potent cocktail of quality, experience, leadership, and depth — all of which might be the golden ticket to the promised land of European football.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls currently roost in eighth place in the Premier League, a hair’s breadth from Milner’s Liverpool, lagging by a trifling four points and clutching two games in hand.
The burning question remains: can Brighton spread their wings and claim their coveted midfield treasure?
