James Milner
Jamie Carragher is confident James Milner will add experience and quality to Liverpool's midfield next season Getty Images

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes the potential arrival of James Milner from Manchester City will represent a very good signing for the Reds.

Reports suggest that the Merseyside club are close to announcing the signing of the English midfielder, who has been on the radar in recent months after he rejected a new contract from the Etihad Stadium outfit.

Milner is a free agent once his contract expires with City at the end of the month and has attracted interest from various clubs in the Premier League including Arsenal and Manchester United.

Brendan Rodgers has beaten off competition from rivals, despite not qualifying for the Champions League and Carragher believes that it was the offer of regular football in his preferred central position that tempted the former Aston Villa midfielder to choose Anfield over the Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford.

"The news of the likely arrival of James Milner at Liverpool throws up a few questions, I think it's a very good signing a free transfer who can play in a few positions and got great experience," Carragher said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

"A good character which you can see from the fact he's left Man City in the Champions League for Liverpool shows that regular starts mean more to him at this time than being a squad player with more chance of picking up trophies at City."

"Brendan Rodgers will have spoken to him about where he sees him fitting in but he's very similar to Jordan Henderson and I have no doubt one reason he's joining is to play in a more central role rather than out wide," the former Reds defender explained.

Carragher has also tipped Liverpool's first potential summer signing to challenge Jordan Henderson for the captain's armband due to his vast Premier League experience.

The 24-year-old midfielder was tipped to take over from departing skipper Steven Gerrard, but with Brendan Rodgers yet to confirm his choice, the former Anfield star feels that Milner could be in the running for the skippers role.

"Also the fact that Brendan Rodgers wouldn't confirm Jordan Henderson as this season's captain even though he was captain in Gerrard's absence last season makes me think him and Milner could be competing for the armband! Was that another thing that enticed Milner to join?"

"A few thoughts on the subject but all in all I think it's a good signing and am glad he'll be wearing the red of LFC hopefully when it's confirmed in the next week or so," Carragher concluded.