If the speculation Melbourne Victory is set to replace Adrian Leijer as captain is true, it's hard to see how the armband won't be handed to midfielder Mark Milligan.

Milligan captained Australia at the recent East Asian Cup, so if coach Ange Postecoglou does make the change this season, it would be surprising if a player whom he recently labelled the best in the A-League didn't get the honour.

Captain material: Mark Milligan. Credit:Getty Images

The European transfer window still has some 10 days to run, but Victory officials are increasingly optimistic that Milligan will remain with the club.

English Premiership suitor Crystal Palace, which has tabled a bid of $500,000, has not increased its offer enough to persuade Victory to sell a player who is such a crucial part of the midfield mix. Handing him the captaincy would also be a gesture that showed Milligan how much he was valued at AAMI Park.