O’Neill hopeful over Milner stay

(GSM) – Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill is keen to keep James Milner at the club despite lucrative offer from Manchester City.

According to the Express and Star, City are willing to offer £24million for the England’s World Cup player.

Milner’s impressive performances last term saw him lift the Professional Footballers Association Player of the Year award and O’Neill is hoping he can keep the 24-year-old winger at Villa Park.

“Well, I don’t know about that,” O’Neill told Sky Sports News.

“Eventually if players do want to leave the football club, or any football club for that matter, then it becomes more difficult than ever before.

“But what I will say is we have a better chance of performing in the manner in which we did last season if we could keep the best players and James Milner comes into that equation.”

Reports suggest a deal worth around £25 million could tempt Villa to sell.