Aston Villa have held talks with Manchester City target James Milner and confirmed that the midfielder will be included Martin O’Neill’s squad for a pre-season tournament in Portugal.
City had an offer for Milner rejected prior to the World Cup finals and it is reported the club are ready to make an improved bid for the midfielder.
O’Neill stated recently that Milner had “intimated” he wanted to join City – although te player denied this – and the two men met on Monday.
“James Milner trained with the rest of the Villa squad today [Monday] at Bodymoor Heath,” a club statement read.
“He and the manager, along with chief executive Paul Faulkner and the player’s representative, Matthew Buck, had an amicable conversation and, while James will not play in tomorrow’s game at Walsall, he will fly with the squad to Portugal on Wednesday ahead of the Guadiana Cup in which Villa will compete with Benfica and Feyenoord this weekend.”
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said recently that Milner was keen to leave Villa Park: “If we have this chance [to sign Milner] I think we can take him.”
