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Arsenal may have to offer James Milner a four-year contract if they are to sign the England midfielder as a free agent from Manchester City.
The 29-year-old has so far turned down a new deal at the Etihad Stadium with City understood to have offered a three-year extension worth £80,000 a week.
With Milner’s current agreement set to expire in the summer, a host of clubs have expressed an interest in signing him with Liverpool, Valencia and Inter Milan among them.
Milner’s first preference is understood to be to stay at City and with the club under pressure to increase the number of homegrown players in their 25-man squad, a breakthrough could yet be reached in negotiations that would see him remain in the north-west. The fact that such a proven performer would not command a transfer fee has interested Arsene Wenger, especially given Southampton’s refusal to lower their £25million price tag for Morgan Schneiderlin.
Burnley v Arsenal - player ratings
Wenger sees Schneiderlin as the most natural fit as a defensive midfielder but has so far expressed an unwillingness to meet the Saints valuation. Milner would reportedly prefer a move to Arsenal over long-time suitors Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Wellington Silva is now eligible to play for Arsenal after receiving a Spanish passport. The 22-year-old is on loan at Spanish side Almeria having originally signed for the Gunners in 2011 from Fluminense only to be denied a work permit.
But his Spanish nationality means he can now play for any team in the European Union.
