When mega deals for big names like Diego Costa, Karim Benzema and Edison Cavani were being thrown around last summer, it was Manchester City’s James Milner that stood out as one of the most underrated players available that wasn’t moved during the transfer window. The English midfielder is certainly not the flashiest player but he proved his skill level once again with City this season as they have a league-best 67 goals so far. This time it appears as though he will be moved. Milner has the potential to be a strong sleeper fantasy pick in the right situation, so it makes sense to take a closer look at his potential destinations in order to try and predict where the best fit would be. These are the three best destinations that would help Milner’s fantasy value the most.
Liverpool
According to multiple reports, the Reds are very close to reaching an agreement with Manchester City that would bring the 29-year-old to Anfield in what would likely turn out to be the perfect situation for both sides. One of the biggest problems for Liverpool this season was their lack of a consistent presence in their midfielder to create for their strikers and really carry the play through the middle of the field. Their 47 goals this season are the fewest of any team in the top six and 20 less than Manchester City.
More importantly, their need in the midfield will only grow with Steven Gerrard set to leave for the MLS at the end of the season. So with a huge whole to fill, it makes sense to target Milner. He will get every opportunity paired with the recently extended Jordan Henderson in the heart of the Liverpool midfield, so a potential move to the Reds would definitely provide the biggest boost to his fantasy value.
Arsenal
There have also been reports that Milner would prefer a move to Arsenal over Liverpool and while that hasn’t been confirmed by him, it wouldn’t hurt his fantasy value if he ended up with the Gunners. Arsene Wenger has already talked openly about how highly he regards Milner and with an opportunity to start in the midfield behind a loaded striker core, there is a good chance his fantasy value would thrive if he ends up at Arsenal. Keep in mind that Arsenal’s 63 goals are the third-most in the EPL heading into this weekend’s action, so it’s quite clear just how much this setting would help his value.
Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil already comprise a formidable cast but if the Gunners are going to take that next step and compete with Chelsea for a Premier League title next season, they will really need another player of Milner’s caliber.
AS Roma
While some will call for a move to a La Liga powerhouse like Barcelona or Real Madrid, the reality is that his fantasy value would actually diminish at a club loaded with so much superstar talent. That’s because those teams are already crammed full of talent in the midfield, which means his playing time and opportunities would be limited. However, a potential move away from England is not out of the question. His fantasy value would probably benefit if he ended up at a top Serie A side like Roma where he would be surrounded by talented players but still have every opportunity to showcase his skill set.
Roma could use a player as skilled as Milner in order to compete with Juventus in Serie A and in the Champions League – especially in terms of offense. Roma is third in the table but has just 42 goals so far this season, which is 17 less than Juventus and 16 less than second-place Lazio. Road scoring has been a big problem as their 16 goals are the fewest among any team in the top 12 in Serie A. Milner would definitely give them a much-needed boost in that realm.
