City bid £20m for Milner !

Aston Villa have turned down Manchester City's £20m bid for their England international James Milner.

"We have received an offer from Manchester City for James Milner and this has been firmly rejected," said a Villa spokesman late on Wednesday.

"We plan to sit down with James and his representative after the World Cup to agree a new long-term deal and this remains our position."

The 24-year-old midfielder was recently named PFA Young Player of the Year.

Leeds-born Milner, who joined Villa from Newcastle for £12m in 2008, is halfway through a four-year deal.

Villa owner Randy Lerner said last week the club will do "everything" in their power to ensure Milner stays.

Premier League and FA Cup Double winners Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with Milner, though United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has talked of this summer's transfer market as being "very difficult".

606: DEBATE
Milner reminds me of Tevez in midfield - works hard, never gives up, great attitude. Just the type of player we need

Ananee
Villa have secured Europa Cup football for next season having finished runners-up to Manchester United in the Carling Cup final and will not want to lose another influential midfielder to City following the departure of Gareth Barry for £12m last season.

City, funded by the deep pockets of Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, are close to signing Germany international defender Jerome Boateng from Hamburg for £11m.

More signings are expected this summer as City push for a coveted Champions League spot having just missed out to Tottenham this season.

Milner has been in a rich vein of form this season, helping Villa finish sixth in the Premier League and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup, since O'Neill switched him from wide midfield to a more central position.

He has also become a regular in the England squad under Fabio Capello, and is widely tipped to be part of the 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

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Im confident we will get him but will cost around £22-25m - way over the top imo for him like when we paid £24m for Lescott but we can afford it and he is a class player. Or we might include SWP or Onuoha in a deal plus £20m. Boateng will be £11m which i think will be a very good deal.

As you say, you paid £24m for Lescott. Milner is younger, better and plays in a traditionally more expensive position. While we're not in your league of money, indications are we're in a strong enough position to not have to accept just any old bid, so certainly shouldn't be even considering anything under the price you paid for Lescott.

You got Barry for a good price & in a quick deal due to circumstances and contract. This should be rather different - more like when Liverpool first came in for Barry.

I think we'll at least wait till the world cup - if he plays and puts in good performances that'll add another few million to the price tag

Since when is the like of Milner good enough to warrant, 20m pounds.

Since he was one of the best players in the league last season.

And since clubs like Chelsea and Man City came along with bottomless pits of money.

Anyway, you gotta look at that price in the context of English players moving between Premier League clubs. It's a market unto itself.

Wright-Phillips cost over £20m when he went to Chelsea and that was over 5 years ago. Precedents have been set and well-established, so it's silly to act surprised now.

City and Chelsea really ruin the English market

villa is not stupid, they know city can offer a lot more

3 years ago if you said a team would reject a 20 mill bid for Milner you'd be accused of being an ignorant english or a dumb dumb.

MAn City will also be buying a model professional who will give them no trouble and almost certainly not be looking to move on in a couple of years time. With the Fabregas saga - shows that if you want to build a long term strategy, players like Milner are necessary.

I suspect Milner has no interest in leaving Villa - if they move it'll be because the money to O Neill and Learner will be too tempting to say no.

Milner cost 12M right?

based on his improvement/versatility/hype/nationality he would be worth 28M pre WC

After one good game at the WC he be will worth 32M.

SLG wrote:City and Chelsea really ruin the English market

i think you'll find that manu ruined the market by paying 30M for rio, rooney etc

SLG wrote:City and Chelsea really ruin the English market

I wonder when Man Utd will start paying £20m plus for players.

110% wrote:

SLG wrote:City and Chelsea really ruin the English market

i think you'll find that manu ruined the market by paying 30M for rio, rooney etc

Roo n Rio are worth 30M,,but Lescott n SWP aren't 20M players

S4P wrote:

SLG wrote:City and Chelsea really ruin the English market

I wonder when Man Utd will start paying £20m plus for players.

maybe this summer, to land Di Maria

L r dd wrote:3 years ago if you said a team would reject a 20 mill bid for Milner you'd be accused of being an ignorant english or a dumb dumb.

A lot of people were laughing when we paid 12m (I too thought it was over the odds - mainly as we'd all but signed him a year earlier for about £4m).

Just goes to show MON is disgracefully smarter than all of us.

£20m for Milner is ridiculous really. Not the sort of player that is going to turn you into champions and they already have Ireland, who is more talented.

I rate Milner and he is a very versatile player but can anybody explain why City are buying him? Where is he to play?

Also Debaser is correct and there should be no surprise about the price tag and especially since this involves City.

Six wrote:£20m for Milner is ridiculous really. Not the sort of player that is going to turn you into champions and they already have Ireland, who is more talented.

I reckon we'll see them agree on 25 + Ireland which is an insanely good deal for Villa.

Super Madrid wrote:I rate Milner and he is a very versatile player but can anybody explain why City are buying him? Where is he to play?

Also Debaser is correct and there should be no surprise about the price tag and especially since this involves City.

City buy players just for fun,,to show that they have the money and making fun of us

If they did get Milner, you'll see him open his arms and smile widely saying WELCOME TO MANCHESTER (replacing Tevez ad)

Super Madrid wrote:I rate Milner and he is a very versatile player but can anybody explain why City are buying him? Where is he to play?

Also Debaser is correct and there should be no surprise about the price tag and especially since this involves City.

Their current wingers include SWP who is leaving, and Petrov who is an ageing crock. Personally i would buy N'Zogbia for half the price, there's no way i would spend this much on Milner, but then i'm thinking about it from a normal clubs POV.

Kimbo wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:I rate Milner and he is a very versatile player but can anybody explain why City are buying him? Where is he to play?

Also Debaser is correct and there should be no surprise about the price tag and especially since this involves City.

Their current wingers include SWP who is leaving, and Petrov who is an ageing crock. Personally i would buy N'Zogbia for half the price, there's no way i would spend this much on Milner, but then i'm thinking about it from a normal clubs POV.

At the moment they used Johnson and Bellamy on the wings when playing a 4-4-2 and when they played a 4-3-3 they have Bellamy+Tevez and Johnson for those players.

I have seen Milner play in central midfield this season but I haven't followed Aston Villa that much this season except some big games. If they are buying him as a sort of link between midfield and attack then it might be smart business.

Super Madrid wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:I rate Milner and he is a very versatile player but can anybody explain why City are buying him? Where is he to play?

Also Debaser is correct and there should be no surprise about the price tag and especially since this involves City.

Their current wingers include SWP who is leaving, and Petrov who is an ageing crock. Personally i would buy N'Zogbia for half the price, there's no way i would spend this much on Milner, but then i'm thinking about it from a normal clubs POV.

At the moment they used Johnson and Bellamy on the wings when playing a 4-4-2 and when they played a 4-3-3 they have Bellamy+Tevez and Johnson for those players.

I have seen Milner play in central midfield this season but I haven't followed Aston Villa that much this season except some big games. If they are buying him as a sort of link between midfield and attack then it might be smart business.

Johnson played once last season(and 4 times in the last 2), he's a burger eating alcoholic, and Bellamy isn't really a winger, he can play as a sort of wing forward in a 4-3-3 but he's shite defensively and can't be trusted to put in a good cross.

Wrong Johnson Kimbo. I hear you have that problem a lot..

Fuck, forgot about Adam! Yeah he's very good.

Michael Johnson

Typical northerner. So much potential but ruined his career through pie eating.

Kimbo wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:I rate Milner and he is a very versatile player but can anybody explain why City are buying him? Where is he to play?

Also Debaser is correct and there should be no surprise about the price tag and especially since this involves City.

Their current wingers include SWP who is leaving, and Petrov who is an ageing crock. Personally i would buy N'Zogbia for half the price, there's no way i would spend this much on Milner, but then i'm thinking about it from a normal clubs POV.

N'Zogbia to back up Adam Johnson

Birmingham are the only club to bid for him btw. (£7.5mil)

Would be a great signing for Brum - good move for N'Zogbia too. He shouldn't go to someone like Citeh where his playing time will be limited and where he'd likely be subsumed my other better players next summer.

Big 4 Billy Bollocks wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:I rate Milner and he is a very versatile player but can anybody explain why City are buying him? Where is he to play?

Also Debaser is correct and there should be no surprise about the price tag and especially since this involves City.

Their current wingers include SWP who is leaving, and Petrov who is an ageing crock. Personally i would buy N'Zogbia for half the price, there's no way i would spend this much on Milner, but then i'm thinking about it from a normal clubs POV.

N'Zogbia to back up Adam Johnson

Birmingham are the only club to bid for him btw. (£7.5mil)

Both can play on either wing, why does one need to be back up?

Birminghams bid was a joke, i don't know what they were thinking.

Kimbo wrote:

Big 4 Billy Bollocks wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:I rate Milner and he is a very versatile player but can anybody explain why City are buying him? Where is he to play?

Also Debaser is correct and there should be no surprise about the price tag and especially since this involves City.

Their current wingers include SWP who is leaving, and Petrov who is an ageing crock. Personally i would buy N'Zogbia for half the price, there's no way i would spend this much on Milner, but then i'm thinking about it from a normal clubs POV.

N'Zogbia to back up Adam Johnson

Birmingham are the only club to bid for him btw. (£7.5mil)

Both can play on either wing, why does one need to be back up?

Birminghams bid was a joke, i don't know what they were thinking.

The last sentence

They already have Barry-De jong as their 2 main CMs, I don't think Milner will be an improvement on them. I think they should raid Spurs for both *Bale and Modric(play him central to link midfield and forwards), not only would it severely weaken a direct competitor, but those players could massively improve them.

*They could play him wide left or right in a 4-4-2, or on the left of a midfield 3. To me he's not defensively sound enough to become a top class LB, nor is he prolific enough to play in a front 3. Although they are quite different, i think he excels in similar positions as Malouda ie wide midfield role in a 4-4-2 or on the left of a midfield 3.

James Milner is content to put his club future on hold until after the World Cup but admits he does not know if he will still be at Aston Villa next season.

Milner insists he is focused 100% on helping England achieve glory in South Africa.

But the midfielder is in demand after an outstanding season, with Manchester City tabling a £20million bid on Wednesday for the 24-year-old which was instantly rejected by Villa.

Milner has two years remaining of his current deal at Villa Park which he signed when he made a club record £12million switch from Newcastle in the summer of 2008.

He is due to hold talks over a new contract but is adamant his priority is helping Fabio Capello's side in South Africa - assuming he is part of the final 23-man squad.

Milner said: "Do I expect to be at Villa next season? I don't know. I've worked as hard as I can and concentrated on club football while the season has been on.

"Now it has finished, I'm focusing on England - and that's the only thing I am focusing on.

"The speculation about my own future is not distracting. There are always going to be rumours about every player in every club when the transfer window opens.

"To be linked with any clubs is flattering but I'm just concentrating on England at this time.

"The season finished at Villa a week and a bit ago and we all said we would discuss it (my future) after the World Cup.

"I've enjoyed my time at Aston Villa, it's a good club, we've had a lot of success this season, came close in two competitions, and we are moving forward."

Capello recently described Milner as "the future" for England and he has made great strides this season at Villa after being switched into a central midfield role by manager Martin O'Neill.

But the PFA Young Player Of The Year is determined not to rest on his laurels.

He said: "It is nice to hear praise from any manager but it is then down to you to prove that correct and drive on again and try and improve again.

"You can't stand still especially with the competition that is about. You just want to become the best player possible and do as well as you can every time you train or play a game.

"Have I improved? You would like to think you've improved every season and I am lucky enough to be working at a good club with a great manager and staff and some very good players.

"There are some very good players here with England and, if you can't learn anything from playing with those sort of players, you are going to struggle.

"I'll just keep playing as well as I can and hopefully force my way into the 23."

Milner is the most capped player for England at Under-21 level but knows the World Cup will be an extra step up.

He said: "The World Cup is the biggest competition you can play in. The whole world is watching.

"As a player, you want to play against the best players, test yourself, and play in the best tournaments, whether its the Champions League or World Cups.

"Every player is desperate to get on the plane to South Africa and prove themselves on the biggest stage."

Milner poses a biggest threat as an attack-minded midfielder but is ready to drop anchor and fill the void left by the more defensive-orientated Gareth Barry if his former Villa team-mate is ruled out through injury.

He said: "Whether there is a role for me in place of Gareth is down to the manager. If he asks me to play there, I'll be prepared to play there.

"I've played there most of the season. I'm happy there, there is no difference to playing there than with your club. I'll be happy to play there."

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oooh! What a bitch!?!?!

Debbie, get your leather black double ended dildo out. This boy needs punishing...