City make Milner move

Blues test Villa's resolve with big money bid

Last updated: 20th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

City make Milner move

Milner: Wanted man

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Skysports.com understands Manchester City have tabled a big money offer for Aston Villa winger James Milner.

The England international enjoyed a sparkling 2009/10 campaign, considerably raising his profile.

Reports in January speculated that a number of top clubs were keeping tabs on the talented 24-year-old, with it widely believed that there is still more to come from him in the future.

City have now made the first move, and it is believed that Roberto Mancini is willing to part with around £20million to take the reigning PFA Young Player of the Year to Eastlands.

It is easy to understand why the Blues are so keen on the former Leeds and Newcastle man, as he has just finished his most productive season to date.

A respectable return of 12 goals from midfield marks him out as a useful addition to any side, while his versatility can also prove priceless.

Busy summer

Milner is able to operate on either flank or at full-back, while he blossomed in the centre of midfield for Villa since being shifted inside by Martin O'Neill.

He has been included in Fabio Capello's preliminary squad for this summer's World Cup and is widely regarded as a shoo-in to make the final cut.

Villa have yet to respond to the offer on the table from City but will be reluctant to part with their key performers.

Unfortunately for O'Neill, there are plenty of other teams rumoured to be ready to make a move and he could be in for a busy summer.

Premier League champions Chelsea are also said to be keen on Milner and they could be tempted to chance their arm in an effort to prevent one of their rivals from strengthening their squad.

Comments (91)

John C (Aston Villa fan) says...

Money has ruined football and these ppl who take over football clubs who use them as their playtoy and have no idea about our game are the perpatrators. All the football clubs below , say, the 'top 6', might aswell not bother, they have no realistic chance of getting where every team thrives to be. Once they get a 'star' they will have them taken away by the bigger clubs because of money. A transfer and salary cap should have been in place years ago. My question is Where does it all end?

Posted 00:56 20th May 2010

Jake Marshall (Aston Villa fan) says...

I find it annoying that Man City feel the need to unsettle our players. There is no stability at Man City because of how many managers theve hired and fired. James said he wanted stability and he has that at Villa. 35 Million at Least Here we go again

Posted 21:17 19th May 2010

Adam Tabret (Newcastle United fan) says...

Having just seen the bid confirmed, I do not think Milner is anywhere near worth £20 million. My valuation would be closer to £10 million. He is a great player and he has blossomed well at Villa, and I believe it would be a big mistake to go to Eastlands. After all, they made all those signings last summer, and what have they to show for it. It'll be the same next season as they will never get the team to gel because they change to much too often.

Posted 21:15 19th May 2010

Nick T (Aston Villa fan) says...

if we do start selling our best players it will just prove we have no ambition to finish above 6Th. we need to keep lads like milner,young and dunn and build a team around these.yet again we will be a selling club. cheers, here is to another 35 years of nearly men .come on randy spend some money give us something to shout about and don't sell milner football is not just about making money if you want that buy oil ,you wont make much doing this.

Posted 19:33 19th May 2010

David Vickers (Manchester City fan) says...

John Salter (Aston Villa fan) said Man City want to buy the title because they havent produced their own players. What rubbish...first you bought Milner and did not produe him and second we have loads of youth teamers who have made teh grade. When City played Villa last count the hoem grown player sin both squads...that is if you can actually count!

Posted 14:39 19th May 2010

D P (West Ham United fan) says...

So you Villa fans think that ireland will take a HUGE paycut to join VIlla? Very much doubt it.Milner is a good player but there is no way that you will get 2-3 players and 10m ,you will probably get SWP and 10m lol

Posted 12:21 19th May 2010

Tony Parker (Aston Villa fan) says...

It really is time some people got a life. There have only been two educated posts on here (one of those from a bluenose) Lets get a perspective. James Milner is a clean living honest teatotal lad, he does not have a money grabbing agent (he is with the pfa) His dad helps him make most of his decisions and he is intelligent. No Villa do not spend shed loads on players like the sheiks of eastlands, but, we have THE best youth team set up in the country and a lot of those players are coming up to the first team now. We have one of the best motivators and player managers in the country and one of the most bonded teams out there. Milner is under contract and the OWNER of the club says he is one of eight players who are NOT under consideration to leave the club. We do not have Citeh's money but we are not a selling club and we do not need to sell. Yet again this is the bored press with nothing to do making up stories with no foundation. Wake up guy's, City are trying to buy the title but they do not have a TEAM, just a bunch of individuals with large ego's and larger bank balances. You got your Barry, did we miss him? No, city paid over the odds for him because he had already been told he could leave last summer as part of the deal for him giving us one more season after the fat waiter debacle the summer before. Good luck City, keep trying, you will get nowhere trying to bully boy Martin O'neill or Randy Lerner.

Posted 08:45 19th May 2010

Chuck Norris (Aston Villa fan) says...

This is again, unfortunately, more speculation from the press who practically run the transfer system these days. It unsettles players & can destroy their carers, on the fringes for a couple of seasons & then, inevitably, move on. Louis France (BCFC) I agree with everything you have said, including the Blue half being on the way up which is fantastic for the area. Milner will develop further under O'Neill and I hope he can see that sticking with the Villa, at least for another season to see if we can keep progressing, will be the best move for him. Gav Bailey, where did Villa finish this season and the previous 2 seasons? If Villa are not a top 6 club then you need to explain this to me. And where were City before the money came in? There are City fans that will admit they were a top 10 club at best before, and dont get me wrong they have never been a small club and have a fantastic fan base who with their patience alone has deserved to enjoy getting up the league & competing, especially when you were down in the lower divisions & still turning out in big numbers. All in all I hope Milner stays.

Posted 09:04 18th May 2010

Dave Beeston (Aston Villa fan) says...

As a Villa fan I will be sad to see Milner leave but we have to be realistic. £20m isn't a good enough offer for me. He has been our best player by a mile. If real or barca came in £20m for Ash I would say yeah. He is getting a huge ego & thinks he is better than the club. For me, the milner deal needs to be done similar to the supposed Zamora deal (swapping players). If we sell Milner, for me we should be getting Ireland & SWP at least in return (2 to 3 players for Milner) I know I wouldn't be disappointed by that

Posted 08:56 18th May 2010

Daniel Winchester (Aston Villa fan) says...

Lets take Richards, Ireland, Onuoha, and £10million for Milner. He is a great player and improved grealty this year, but if we can add three quality British to improve the squad a good deal. Don't take just the money if they want Milner lets do a player cash deal to benefit Villa.

Posted 08:54 18th May 2010

Whitey P (Aston Villa fan) says...

I reckon you will see 20Million + Ireland OR Carrick and to be honest I reckon that's a good deal for Villa. We need the cash (Randy is NOT going to spend big..) and Ireland is a solid player who O'neill would turn into a great player. If you were Milner what would you do? I would rather he went to Man Utd alhtough I dont rate Carrick as highly as Ireland.

Posted 08:42 18th May 2010

Kevin Headley (Manchester City fan) says...

How can people say Milner will not be moving forwards by joining City? Look at Adam Johnson, since he has moved to City and played regularly he has been picked in the England squad. We are not just a club buying players for the sake of it, we actually buy players for a reason....for them to better the squad! DAVID S...how have Villa had a beeter season than City??? We beat you convincingly and finished above you!!! £20M + is a bit excessive but most english players are over priced (except Adam Johnson)! I see alot of jealousy from Villa fans, funny when Lerner first took over you were happy to have a great deal of cash injection...all talk about how rich you were! City 'til I die!

Posted 08:33 18th May 2010

Garth Cooley (Manchester United fan) says...

Milner to Man United, he will flourish under Alex!!!!

Posted 08:31 18th May 2010

Ben Humphrey (Leeds United fan) says...

Milner wont leave Villa for a manchester club, being a leeds lad. He wont go to M*nchester United so links to there are just stupid! Milner is Leeds at heart and will be back with us when we go back up ;)!

Posted 08:28 18th May 2010

John Salter (Aston Villa fan) says...

Money cant but everything and James Milner will be one of those things! Man City want to buy the title because they havent produced their own players. Like Chelsea, clubs like this ruin football, its a sad situation when money rules sport! Gareth Barry went there and it did him no good at all!

Posted 08:15 18th May 2010

Craig Potter (Liverpool fan) says...

Clearly Milner is very talented player and the fact he is english raises the price , i feel he would gain little except cash joining city and if the price is £25 million , lets be realistic Essien joined chelsea for £23m and Alonso joined real for 30m and Milner isnt as good as these two i feel this could be a fight between Chelsea and Man Utd, and he'll join Utd on the Champions League Basis

Posted 05:03 18th May 2010

Louis France (Birmingham City fan) says...

I am a BCFC fan and I can honestly say that this would be a bad move for Milner, I liked him when he was at Villa on loan a couple seasons ago and was surprised the move wasnt made permanent straight away, kills me to say it but the villa have a good up coming squad and a great manager, I think J.M would be a fool to leave them for City or Chelski, although if UTD were to offer then that would be a good move. IMO United are the only team Milner should leave Villa for at present as Villa like my beloved Blues are currently in a stage where they are developing a very interesting squad (although they are currently competing at a much higher level than us) Stick in Brum Milner, it is the best place for you lad :-)

Posted 04:15 18th May 2010

Adam C (Manchester United fan) says...

Martin o neils not stupid. Guarentee a cash plus ireland deal will be made.

Posted 03:53 18th May 2010

Liam Miller (Newcastle United fan) says...

Let's be honest, you can tell by his touch, technique, and general footballing ablility that a lot of clubs will want to take him on this summer. It's a player that will give his all and run his socks off for the badge, he is a quality footballer that would never have a bad or inconsistant season. Hopefully he will go on to play for a title winning side and have a pivotal role in the national team as you can tell his ability and desire far outweigh some of the tosh the premier league has representing it currently.

Posted 03:34 18th May 2010

Simon Read (Aston Villa fan) says...

Man City would do to Milner what Chelsea did to Scott Parker.

Posted 03:30 18th May 2010

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