Martin O'Neill admits that James Milner has voiced his desire to
leave Aston Villa for a lucrative move to Manchester City.
The Villa Park manager is ready to let go of the England
international, but only if City up their bid.
The Eastlands big-spenders have already bid more than
£20million, but O'Neill is said to rate the 24-year-old at
£30m.
Flying winger: Milner has impressed in a Villa
shirt
‘There is a question mark over James Milner,' said O'Neill. 'I
had a conversation with James before the World Cup and he intimated
that he would like to go at that time.
‘I haven’t spoken to him since. I know there have been
conversations with his agent and our chief executive.
National hero: Milner in action for
England
'Manchester City have made an offer for the player but certainly
there is a difference in valuation.
‘But I’m sure things will get resolved. James is due back next
week after an extended stay after the World Cup – the same as the
rest of the World Cup players like Emile Heskey, Stephen Warnock
and Brad Guzan.
‘They are all due back next week and I imagine things will get
resolved one way or the other in the very foreseeable future.’
Villa would be disappointed to lose one of their key players and
offered to make Milner the highest paid player in the club's
history during talks before the World Cup finals.
However, O'Neill said that the former Leeds and Newcastle player
had turned down proposal and made it clear he wanted to move to a
bigger club.
Sportsmail first
revealed in May that City had identified the versatile player as a
central part of their transfer plans, but they have been busy
signing other stars as the pursuit dragged on.
City are wary of being exploited and while Roberto Mancini this
week admitted he wanted Milner, he warned the asking price was too
high.
'When Manchester City want to buy a player, other clubs ask much
more than is normal,' said the Italian. 'This is not good and it is
not right.
'We have bought three good players already but now Inter Milan,
for example, are asking a lot of money for Mario Balotelli, and we
want to wait.
'We are interested in good players like Balotelli and Milner but
we have time before the market closes in August. We have a lot of
different choices.'
Headache: O'Neill wants to resolve Milner's future
quickly