Arsenal Lead Liverpool and Tottenham in Signing Manchester City Star James Milner - Report

Arsenal are reportedly ahead of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in signing Manchester City midfielder James Milner, according to the Guardian.

The 28-year-old has one year left on his contract and has not signed an extension with his current employers. The England international has seen his playing time being limited as he has made 12 starts, while making 19 appearances from the bench in the Premier League.

The report claims the Gunners manager Arsene Wenger and Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers are admirers of Milner. Besides, Arsenal's neighbours Tottenham Hotspur and the Reds's Merseyside rivals Everton have recently joined the race.

Wenger is keen on acquiring the services of Milner and is looking to make a £10m bid in landing the former Aston Villa man. The Frenchman is looking to lure the City star as he is planning to hand him a central role.

The 64-year-old manager wants to bring Milner to the Emirates to provide competition for Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini. Wenger is considering an approach in signing the English midfielder as he wants to bolster his squad for the next season.

The former Swansea manager is still waiting to see if he wants to land Milner in the summer transfer window, despite the player impressing him. Liverpool could convert their interest into an offer and provide competition to Arsenal for the midfielder's signature.

The Citizens will try to persuade Milner and sign an extension and continue at the Etihad as they will be looking to meet the Premier League's criteria for home grown players. Should City allow their star midfielder to leave, they could be left with Joe Hart as the only English player with a chance of featuring regularly next season.

Meanwhile, Milner has made it evident to City manager Manuel Pellegrini that he is frustrated with the lack of game time and has hinted that he is considering his future at the Etihad.

"It's an ongoing question whether I am better staying off at a club like City and playing big games in big competitions or playing more regularly somewhere else," Milner told the Mirror.

Spurs and Everton are aware that Milner is weighing his options and the two clubs could spoil Arsenal and Liverpool's approach for the City midfielder.