Source: Team_Talk
Villa reject £20m City bid for Milner
Aston Villa have rejected Manchester City's £20million bid for James Milner and vowed to offer the midfielder a new deal after the World Cup.[LNB] City launched their initial bid on Wednesday night for Milner, currently in Austria with his country preparing for South Africa.[LNB]Twelve months ago City were successful in prising Gareth Barry away from Villa in a £12million deal and now their attention has turned to Milner.[LNB]But Villa boss Martin O'Neill would be reluctant to lose the services of Milner, who is due to hold talks regarding a new contract during the summer, and the former Celtic boss wasted no time in turning down City's offer.[LNB]A Villa spokesman said: "We have received an offer from Manchester City for James Milner and this has been firmly rejected.[LNB]"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."[LNB]The 24-year-old has just enjoyed a successful season in a central midfield role and was recently crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year.[LNB]Milner is currently halfway through the four-year contract he signed when joining Villa for a club record £12million from Newcastle in the summer of 2008.[LNB]England coach Fabio Capello recently said Milner was "the future" of English football and he has made massive strides under O'Neill and is a near certainty to be part of the final 23 man squad for the World Cup.[LNB]Manchester United and Chelsea have also been linked with the player who first burst to prominence as a 16-year-old with Leeds.[LNB]Milner's big upturn in fortunes coincided with O'Neill deciding to switch him from a wide right role into the centre of the park midway through last season.[LNB]It was an inspired move with Milner helping Villa reach the final of the Carling Cup, the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the top six of the Premier League.[LNB]Villa would be keen to hold on to Milner as they look to push for a Champions League spot next season after a third successive top-six finish.[LNB]Club owner Randy Lerner stated only last week in his annual media briefing at Villa Park he was hopeful of the player remaining at Villa.[LNB]But there is no doubt Milner has become one of the hottest young properties in English football and his value could soar even higher if he has a successful World Cup.
