Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Mike Field 
Date:Thursday July 22 2010
Time: 4:08PM
UK time is: 08:52:16
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'He Intimated That He'd Like To Go' - O'Neill
Martin O'Neill has confirmed that James Milner does want to move the Council Stadium of Manchester City.
As covered earlier Martin O'Neill was speaking to the press after landing in sunny Dublin ahead of our Bohemians friendly on Sunday and confirmed that Milner was off as long as the price was right.
'I had a conversation with James before the World Cup and he intimated he'd like to go. City made an offer but it did not meet our valuation. I'm sure matters will be resolved soon.'
Milner is not with the lads in Dublin after being given a bit more time off to recover following the World Cup disaster and will be back in training next week, however I'd now be very surprised if we saw him back in the claret and blue for any friendly action given Monny has now confirmed his desire to leave.
We all know a bid of £20 million was turned down in May, and the press speculates that we are holding out for a fee in the region of £30 million which would be a remarkable return financially on the player.
What hasn't been confirmed, although it's potentially likely, is that Milner is quietly forcing the issue and has handed in a transfer request. Least his 'intimation' to leave could certainly be considered a request.
In one way that seems a shame because as if their was an ounce of loyalty left in the game Milner is the sort of lad you'd expect it from, but on the other it's pleasing that he's in effect doing it the right way - if there can be one. He hasn't kicked a fuss up in the press, he's obviously been honest with O'Neill and given the suffering of the Barry saga at least Milner has helped keep this issue simpler and more straight forward - at least from Villa's perspective and O'Neill has been able to plan all summer for his departure.
City will know what we want, they obviously also know Milner wants to join them...the only sticking point is whether they are prepared to meet our valution and if so, how long will they drag their heels.
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Your Comments
If we don't sell to City, they can buy someone else, and we'll be stuck with an asset that will diminish in value. We will have to be realistic and grown up about this, and accept Man City's final offer, which will be perfectly reasonable anyway, given their first offer was £20m. To get hung up on a figure of £30m would be absurd. Milner is worth no more than what Man City are willing to pay, and the reality is that he isn't really worth whatever that figure is, because Man City have to pay through the nose.
Albarnista
A shame for you if he leaves, but at the same time 30 mil is a lot of money... If you can sell him for that I think it'd be good business and O'Neill will have replacements in mind.
Spursnomad
If this happens, then it just shows how money can affect people. If anyone was going to be turned by the cash i would have thought it be Ashley Young. But fair play to him, he recognises it is MON who has helped his career to date and understands he still has a lot to learn. If Milner (like Barry) doesn't see it that MON had such a positive affect on his career, he can leave. Don't want a player who doesnt wanna play for us.
AndyFC
We only spent 12 mil on him, we won't lose 30 mil!!!! He will still be worth a great deal of money next year and we aren't paying him megabucks so it's in his best interests to sign a deal with us or them ASAP even if he has a getout clause with us etc.
Villan444
The only way we should sale is if Heskey's included as part of the deal :)
SchoolBoyError
Let's just hope City don't hold out till the end of the transfer window which gives us no time to buy a replacement or 2....30 mil plus 15 mil we were going to get anyway is 45...not a bad transfer kit. If we could buy 3 15 mil first team players - that'd be a pretty great summer...Creative midfield, striker and...?
los_angeles_villan
Why do we need money? We've got a billionaire chairman for Pete's sake....who cares about £5-10 mil either way???
olofthegreat
i would sell him, buy some decent players ABROAD and while we start being the best of best, milner will be bathing in his greed with people starting to realise that he is a complete and utter fool. if he stays, good for him but i wont look at the same way again
Avfc94 we do
Now is the time to cash in on him, this time next summer with only twelve months left on his contract, we'd probably only get back the 12m that we paid Newcastle United for him. We will hopefully get around 25m for him, which would be excellent business, and give Martin O'Neill the money to play with in the transfer market, money that otherwise would have been denied him. Where did you get it from los_angeles_villan, that Lerner was going to stump up 15m for MON to spend? I somehow doubt that very much. O'Neill would have been lucky to receive pocket change without offloading players first, and only by selling Milner or Ashley Young would MON have received the sort of cash needed to reshape the team for another assault on the games domestic honours. Lets hope now that the transaction can be completed without further delay. We ourselves need to get active in the transfer window without further delay. I dont agree with selling our best players to finance incoming transfer dealings, it is not the way forward, but sadly it appears that that is currently the name of the game at Villa Park.
glensider
Well here we go again. Barry wanted away for the money now Milner .he came to us and Martin O'Neill gave him all he has achieved at villa and this what we get, there is only 1 motive in all this MONEY. My wish is we get the best deal and then its bye bye. The deal I would like is Bellamy, Ireland, Onuoha + 5 Million the Barry and Milner talk all about there millions .Milner you disgust me and I thought you would never turn into a turn coat .Good Luck and good Riddance
apache
It's a shame, I really didn't think Milner was the type of player. But if he wants to go then let him, way to show your apprieciation to the Club and Manager that made you. He'll just join that group of misfits they consider a 'team' and become another stand-out premierleague player that fades into the City squad never to be bothered with again. I mean, who's really taken any interest in Barry since he left Villa? He used to be one of those players that had everybody stressing how talented he was and how important he was, who does that anymore? Oh, and good-luck getting games, on top of the midfielders they've already got they've bought Silva and Y.Toure, and Mancini has said he want's Donovan...although watching Man City v Villa next season from the bench for double the wages isnt bad though right?
Can we get Ireland, Onuoha, Boussoufa and Huntelaar now?
Callum_ws
"The only way we should sale is if Heskey's included as part of the deal :)" SchoolBoyError - OK, £40million it is, but YOU keep Heskey! ;)
fifthcolumnblue
I think its funny that people are saying that they didn't think he would ask to leave, why? because he has a big engine or because he works hard in training, or doesn't speak **** to the meadia.
I really don't hold it against milner if he wants to leave, Man City are going places with all their money and it just shows he has ambition and 2 things drives any footballer ambition and money and he will get them both at city.
Having said that i really can not see him getting a game, so Maybe he is blinded by his ambition or maybe the money. But i love the way MO''N really stands his ground on these issues it just shows that we wont be pushed around by any club, and i really cant see him letting Milner go for much less than $30.
liamo1981
Having said all that, I really like that we have been linked to Matthieu Flammini if we signed him and Ireland i would be extactic and wouldn't give a second thought to Milner leaving.
liamo1981
the rest is here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1297001/Milner-chaos-James-asked-says-ONeill--player-says-thats-true-Man-City-make-final-24m-bid.html
Callum_ws
Forget that, just saw the thread in the forums.
Callum_ws
this whole thing smells a bit weird.......
leftfoot
I dont think the club has money problems but the fact that non of us would sell our assets for a lot less than they were worth seems to be Ignored. Get as much as you can for a player.
col8
Franco honestly that is a poor comparison,Milner has a dream job,getting more in a week than most folk earn in a year or two,hardly similar to working in a soul-destroying,minimum wage ****hole is it?
CoxintheBox
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