LONDON: Liverpool midfielder James Milner hopes his contract issue “gets resolved sooner rather than later” with just eight months left on his current deal.

The former England international, who turns 34 in January, will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs in just over two months.

He has seen most of the first-team squad tied down to long-term deals, with defender Joel Matip, out of favour this time last year, the latest to agree a five-year contract last week.

Negotiations are continuing over Milner’s future and manager Jurgen Klopp recently expressed a desire to see the veteran stay but so far nothing has been concluded.

“Who knows, you know?” said the midfielder. “There have been talks so hopefully it gets resolved sooner rather than later but at this moment I will just keep playing football as well as I can.”

A month ago Klopp described him as “Mr Professional” and a role model for the younger members of his squad, saying “he looks like he has a few more years in the locker”.

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