Jurgen Klopp is 'pushing the Liverpool board' to open talks with "special" player

Jurgen Klopp is eager to extend James Milner's contract at Anfield, according to reports.

The 37-year-old has been defying age in a Liverpool shirt, having made 32 appearances for the club this term, after signing a one-year extension last summer.

But he is out of contract at the end of the season, and has been rumoured with an exit.

Klopp keen to extend Milner's contract

The German boss reportedly believes 'Milner’s leadership and off-pitch presence is crucial to Liverpool’s dressing room atmosphere and believes he would be a huge loss for the club should he leave this summer.'

The Liverpool boss recently informed reporters that the industrial midfielder was keen to continue playing at the highest level, referring to him as an "incredibly important player".

"We have different plans for Milly but Milly wants to keep playing," said Klopp. "When you see him play the other night I think everyone understands that. You can't judge him normal for his age. He is 37, doesn't look a day like this when he is in training.

"He is an incredibly important player and in this game (Wolves) you saw on the pitch as well. It is not that Milly expects to play 64 games a season but in 64 games a season Milly could be extremely important. That is how it is. Milly has reached 600 games and most of them for Liverpool.

"Even a player who had a few clubs can end up at his club and I would consider Liverpool as his club and I am pretty sure the club should use his character and his mindset because it is really special.

"There might be more fancy players out there but no one with a similar mind-set and that makes him incredibly valuable for us. And it is not because I am too loyal. It is just a fact."

Whilst talks have allegedly not been opened, Liverpool are 'optimistic' over a new deal once negotiations are underway.