Source: Team_Talk
Villa put £30m tag on wantaway Milner
Martin O'Neill has admitted James Milner wants to leave Aston Villa this summer - but he wants around £30million for the England midfielder.[LNB] Milner has already been the subject of a rejected bid from Manchester City following a brilliant season last term, which earned him three starting appearances in England's World Cup campaign.[LNB]O'Neill, who revealed he has not spoken to Milner since before he left for the World Cup, told Villa's official website: "The state of affairs is really straightforward. James and his agent came to see us before the World Cup and intimated that they would like to go.[LNB]"Then Manchester City made the offer, which we told them about. There is a difference of valuation at this moment between the buying club and the selling club. That may well be resolved and if that is the case then absolutely fine.[LNB]"I think James' agent has told our chief executive that he wouldn't be signing a new contract. Obviously that puts a different slant on things, like everything else.[LNB]"If a fee is agreed, at the end of the day, the player can leave."[LNB]Milner excelled after moving from the right into the centre of midfield last season and was the key player in Villa's Champions League challenge, although they eventually lost out to Tottenham for fourth spot.[LNB]City have already signed midfielders Yaya Toure and David Silva this summer and manager Roberto Mancini said this week they would not be rushed in their pursuit of Milner.[LNB]Losing a star man to big-spending City would not be a new experience for O'Neill, who last summer saw captain Gareth Barry make the move to Eastlands.[LNB]The Villa boss, meanwhile, has been linked with West Ham midfielder Scott Parker should Milner leave but co-owner David Sullivan said their rivals would "not have enough money" to tempt them to sell the 29-year-old.
