Milner refusing to sign new Villa contract after missing out on City move

James Milner is refusing to sign a new deal at Aston Villa this year after being priced out of a move to Man City.

England midfielder Milner, 24, is set to return to pre-season training at Villa on Monday.

And he fears his dream of a summer move to Eastlands is over after Villa refused to budge from their £30million price tag.

City had a bid of £18m plus £2m in add-ons for Milner, who has 11 caps, rejected in May.

City officials were prepared to go to £25m but Villa are steadfastly refusing to drop their valuation.

Villa are also insisting on a straight cash deal despite City’s willingness to include fringe players like Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha.

Now Milner expects to spend the forthcoming campaign at Villa, where he has two years left on a £45,000-a-week deal.

Villa are keen for Milner to extend his contract as he will only have 12 months left this time next summer.

But the ace is no rush to commit his long-term future to Villa and has told them he won’t be sitting down to talk terms in 2010.

Villa were willing to make Milner their highest-paid player on a new contract eclipsing Ashley Young’s salary of £65,000-a-week.

But no contract talks are scheduled with the player, who just wants to concentrate on performing well again this season after a brilliant club campaign.

The deadlock in negotiations with City has surprised Villa who had budgeted on spending the cash from Milner’s sale on Spurs striker Robbie Keane and Celtic winger Aiden McGeady.

Interest in Milner - signed from Newcastle in August 2008 for £12m - from Manchester United and Chelsea has also cooled due to his astronomical price.

Villa, who must sell to buy, are now stepping up their efforts to offload squad men like Steve Sidwell, Nigel Reo-Coker, Nicky Shorey, Luke Young and Curtis Davies.

But Sidwell, Reo-Coker and Shorey only have 12 months left on their contracts and will not command much as they are free agents next summer.

Fulham remain favourites for Sidwell after Mirrorsport revealed on June 17 the Cottagers had bid for the midfielder.