Manuel Pellegrini remains hopeful that James Milner will agree a new contract and extend his stay with Manchester City.
The England international has been at the Etihad Stadium since the summer of 2010, when Roberto Mancini paid £26million on his budget to lure him from Aston Villa. Milner has not always been considered a first team pick for City, but he has certainly played his part in their two league title successes, FA Cup win of 2011 and League Cup triumph last term.
However, the midfielder will be out of contract at the end of the current campaign, which has cast serious doubts over his long-term future in Manchester. A number of clubs in England and abroad are said to be interested in the former Leeds United and Newcastle United star, but Pellegrini remains hopeful that the player will reach an agreement to extend his stay at City.
“Maybe City have already offered all that the club can offer, maybe it’s not about more money, maybe there are different things to sign a new contract,” said the Chilean in his press conference ahead of the trip to Premier League strugglers Burnley on Saturday evening. “You must ask James what is happening with him. I hope he will find an arrangement, and I think it’s possible.”
City, meanwhile, know they must collect maximum points at Turf Moor if they are to keep pace with Chelsea at the head of the league table. Failure to do so could see them slip as far as eight point behind Jose Mourinho’s side by the end of the weekend, and the Londoners would still have a game in hand. Burnley, though, are fighting for survival and will take confidence from their showing at the Etihad Stadium earlier this term, when they came from 2-0 down to take a point.
