I’ll let Milner leave if Man City’s price is right, says O’Neill
ASTON VILLA manager Martin O’Neill has told James Milner he can leave if Manchester City table an acceptable offer after admitting the sought-after midfielder has asked to leave.
Manchester City have had one bid, thought to be worth £20m, turned down by Villa, who
are holding out for nearer £30m.
But the big-spending Eastlands outfit are expected to return with an improved offer, which could see Nedum Onuoha or Stephen Ireland used in part-exchange.
“The state of affairs is really straightforward,” said O’Neill. “James and his agent came to see us before the World Cup and intimated that they would like to go.
“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. 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.
“Although I haven’t spoken to James since that day, he has played in the World Cup and the rest really is pretty well straightforward. If a fee is agreed, at the end of the day, the player can leave.”
City have already made three big-money signings this summer – Germany defender Jerome Boateng, Spanish World Cup winner David Silva and Barcelona’s Yaya Toure – and are hopeful of landing Serbia full-back Aleksandar Kolarov and Inter Milan forward Mario Balotelli.
And Villa defender Richard Dunne has warned Milner about competition for places at City, his former club.
“At Aston Villa he will play every week, at Manchester City he may not,” Dunne said.