Can Man City emulate Tottenham’s achievement last campaign and break into the Top Four? Tom Powell previews the contenders.

Martin O’Neill remains unsure whether Manchester City target James Milner will still be at Aston Villa this season.M

Milner has hinted that he would like to join City before the close of the transfer window and Villa concede they will let the player go provided the price is right.

The midfielder sat out Villa’s friendly double-header in Portugal over the weekend and, following a brief chat with chief executive Paul Faulkner, O’Neill confirmed there have been no developments.

“I only had a brief conversation with Paul today, and it was the briefest of briefs,” O’Neill told Sky Sports News. “I don’t think there’s any more news to tell.”

Asked whether Milner would stay at Villa, O’Neill replied: “I don’t really know. I don’t think at this stage I would be in a position to give you a definitive answer.

“Naturally I’ve said before that, almost everyone to a man, would want James to stay at the football club.”

The Villa boss also felt it was not worth risking Milner’s fitness in the games against Feyenoord and Benfica after he hurt his back in training.

He continued: “It is a problem really because we have been unable to get it sorted out for these couple of days.

“He had some back spasms, but he didn’t have those when he arrived here, it was just in training the other day, so it was best not to have him involved.”

Can Man City emulate Tottenham’s achievement last campaign and break into the Top Four? Tom Powell previews the contenders.

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