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Rodgers says Liverpool-linked Milner is 'outstanding'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has refused to be drawn on suggestions that he is looking at a deal to bring in "outstanding" Manchester City midfielder James Milner.

The 29-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to agree a new deal.

A report in The Timeson Thursday said that Milner believes he has little chance of staying at City beyond the end of the season.

It has been claimed Rodgers is keen to sign a midfielder, following captain Steven Gerrard's announcement that he will leave at the end of the season to move to LA Galaxy and, asked about the possibility of signing Milner, Rodgers said: "James is a wonderful player.

"He's been an outstanding footballer since the time I saw him at Leeds as a young player. Players get linked with this club consistently - whether it's through agents or representatives trying to, by virtue of association, get a better deal at another club or get something by other means.

"I would never speak about another player until they were signed and in the door. You could probably fire a whole list of names at me and you would get the same response."

Milner, who joined City from Aston Villa in August 2010, refused to sign a new deal at the end of last season, because he had not started as many games as he would have liked.

But he has played more regularly this season, serving as an emergency striker over Christmas with the specialist forwards injured.

He said last month that he wanted to stay at City, and hoped that the club would come up with the right deal. City manager Manuel Pellegrini has also stated that he wants to keep the versatile England international.

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