Man City make final £24million take-it-or-leave it offer for Milner
Published 23:02 22/07/10 By David McDonnell
Manchester City will make a final £24million take-it-or-leave it offer for Aston Villa midfielder James Milner.
City have upped their original offer of £20m but have warned Villa - who have put a £30m valuation on the England World Cup star - that they are not prepared to go any higher.
Milner is said to be furious with Martin O'Neill after the Villa boss yesterday went public on the player's situation and claimed he wanted to quit the club to move to Eastlands.
The 24-year-old was left in limbo after Villa rejected City's original bid of £20m but Milner could yet secure a move if, as expected, a compromise on the price is reached between the two clubs.
But if Villa stick to their guns and reject City's final offer, Milner fears he could be forced to stay at Villa and cop flak from their fans - just like Gareth Barry when his proposed move to Liverpool collapsed.
O'Neill said: "James and his agent came to see us before the World Cup and intimated that they would like to go.
"Manchester City have put a valuation on the player. It doesn't match our particular valuation but we will see, that may well be resolved.
"City have put themselves into a different stratosphere at the moment and a lot of players want to be part of that."
Milner, capped 11 times, is due back at Villa on Monday after an extended break following international duty with England in South Africa. He is refusing to discuss a new contract while ambitious City remain in the hunt for him.
But Milner insists he has never demanded to be sold or requested to leave in an end of season meeting with O'Neill and club officials. Milner, who has two years left on a £45,000-a-week deal, believes O'Neill's comments are designed to flush out an improved bid from City.
Villa have to sell in order to buy this summer and need cash to make signings of their own, like Robbie Keane and Aiden McGeady. Meanwhile, Villa are ready to accept a cut-price offer for Luke Young after the defender declined to go to their Irish training camp.
O'Neill and his first team squad are in Ireland training ahead of tomorrow's friendly against Bohemians. But right-back Young, 31, has opted to stay in the UK as he is desperate to quit with Fulham are favourites for his signature.
