James Milner is close to completing his move to Brighton after eight brilliant years at Liverpool

James Milner is close to finalizing a deal with Brighton, talkSPORT understands.

The 37-year-old will be a free agent when his Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season, leaving Anfield after eight glittering years on Merseyside.

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Milner signed for Liverpool in 2015 after ending his contract with Manchester City.

He has made 328 appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side – scoring 26 goals – the most he has scored at a single club.

During his time at Liverpool, Milner has won the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Community Shield and Club World Cup.

Despite being at the end of his career, the England international has 61 caps this season and has made 37 appearances in all competitions.

Jurgen Klopp is a huge admirer of the ex-Aston Villa man and is said to be looking to extend his stay beyond the summer.

But Brighton have made a move and Milner is keen for a new challenge and the prospect of more start time as he nears the end of his career.

Former Liverpool team-mate Adam Lallana is said to have played a role in convincing him to join the Seagulls.

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Brighton have enjoyed a stellar season, beating Man United in dramatic circumstances on Thursday night to remain firmly in the hunt for European qualification.

They are not resting on their laurels and are acting quickly to achieve their summer goals, with talkSPORT recently announcing they had signed a record-breaking deal for Brazilian striker Joao Pedro with Watford.

The 21-year-old has been with the Hornets since January 2020 but is now expected to continue after two and a half seasons for a fee of around £30million.

Pedro, Watford’s top scorer with 11 goals in 35 league games this season, will officially complete his move once the June transfer window opens.