Source: FOOTYMAD
Lerner: Milner still wanted at Villa
Randy Lerner, the Aston Villa chairman, has played down suggestions midfielder James Milner could leave the club this summer. Randy Lerner, the Aston Villa chairman, has played down suggestions midfielder James Milner could leave the club this summer. Milner, 24, has impressed for Martin O'Neill's side this season and is part of England's 30-man provisional squad currently in Austria preparing for the World Cup finals. That success has brought inevitable speculation linking Milner with a move to a club with deeper financial resources or more realistic Champions League hopes - Manchester City and Manchester United are among the sides reported to be interested. Lerner, however, having appeared to have convinced O'Neill to stay - he was linked with a move to Liverpool, where manager Rafa Benitez's job is far from secure - he has now turned his attention to Milner. "I'm not worried about losing James Milner. I think James will play for Aston Villa and should play for Aston Villa," Lerner told the Daily Mail. "I'm not dismissive of the realities that a player that has received the attention and acclaim of James is going to spark discussion and debate about a move and so on. I don't worry about him leaving because he is wanted at this club." Milner, 24, has impressed for Martin O'Neill's side this season and is part of England's 30-man provisional squad currently in Austria preparing for the World Cup finals. That success has brought inevitable speculation linking Milner with a move to a club with deeper financial resources or more realistic Champions League hopes - Manchester City and Manchester United are among the sides reported to be interested. Lerner, however, having appeared to have convinced O'Neill to stay - he was linked with a move to Liverpool, where manager Rafa Benitez's job is far from secure - he has now turned his attention to Milner. "I'm not worried about losing James Milner. I think James will play for Aston Villa and should play for Aston Villa," Lerner told the Daily Mail. "I'm not dismissive of the realities that a player that has received the attention and acclaim of James is going to spark discussion and debate about a move and so on. I don't worry about him leaving because he is wanted at this club."
