Outlining an Ideal Summer Transfer Scenario for Manchester City and James Milner

It seems almost certain James Milner will begin next season at a new club. His contract at Manchester City is set to expire this summer with no new agreement imminent.

It will bring an end to a glorious five-year stint at the Etihad Stadium, a period that has seen him win a clean sweep of domestic honours and establish himself as one of the most respected and well-liked players in the club’s recent history.

Few players divide opinion quite like Milner. There are some who see him as nothing more than a carthorse, a limited technically player who relies solely on effort and running power to influence a game.

However, most have surely now come around to the opinion he is an excellent player: versatile, tenacious, inventive and with few flaws in his makeup.

But what would have been the ideal scenario for the player and club this summer?

For City, who are already struggling somewhat to fulfil next season’s home-grown quota criteria, they would much rather have kept the 29-year-old. He’s been excellent this season, operating in a number of positions with minimum fuss and, usually, quality.

During December, with City facing something close to an injury crisis, Milner led the line up front, playing as a lone striker—an unfamiliar role, even for him. City’s form during that period was excellent, and Milner’s adaptability was a lot to do with that.

He’s played full-back, central midfield, on both wings and as a striker this season and managed all expertly. Wherever City have needed him, their Mr Reliable has delivered.

Indeed, Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, spoke in glowing terms about the England man to Sid Lowe in a wide-ranging interview for the Guardian recently:

"

The club wants [James] Milner to continue and he wants to stay but maybe he wants more games.

I understand. I’m Milner’s No. 1 fan. Find me a more complete English player. There are players who’re better technically, yes. Quicker players, yes. Players who head better, yes. But show me one who does all the things Milner does well. There isn’t one.

It’s hard to leave him out. Respect, commitment and performance level: 10/10, fantastic. He’s polyfunctional: full-back—the only position he doesn’t like—attacking midfield, wide. I played him as a forward and the team averaged three goals a game. He gives everything. You leave him on the bench and he’s absolutely furious but watch him during the game: encouraging, shouting, supporting. And in the next training session he kills himself.

Milner’s a phenomenon, a guy with big balls and a heart this big. Intelligent, great mentality, one of those players that when you leave him out you’re left with this feeling of injustice; it hurts because he should always play but sometimes you need a technical player with other characteristics. I hope he stays. If he doesn’t it will be because there’s an important offer.

"

It's clear Pellegrini has become an admirer after working closely with Milner for two seasons, but the will of the player appears to be to leave the club and secure one last big move that brings with it the guarantee of regular starts. 

For the player, who has never been a guaranteed starter in the City first XI when everyone in the squad is fit, a move away is probably better for his career. He has the chance to move and guarantee himself regular starts in his favoured central-midfield role, and he will hope that leads to cementing his spot in the England side too.

Perhaps Liverpool will be the most likely and most suitable destination. Steven Gerrard's imminent move to the Los Angeles Galaxy will see a gap open up in the Anfield club's midfield, and with Brendan Rodgers in charge, a man who sees the virtues of a British core of players in a Premier League squad, he would arguably have the right manager to oversee the final leg of his career in this country. 

It seems likely he will play out the final years of his career abroad, perhaps in Major League Soccer, but the move he makes this summer will arguably be the most important of his career. He's spent five years as a versatile utility man for both club and country. He now wants an elevated status and will seek it away from the Etihad. 

City's loss will certainly be someone else's gain.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.