Villa reject £20m City bid for Milner
Aston Villa have "firmly rejected" a £20 million bid from Manchester City for talented England midfielder James Milner.
City made the offer on Wednesday but Villa have rebuffed the approach, insisting that PFA Young Player of the Year Milner is not for sale.
Manchester United and Chelsea have also been linked with the player who first burst to prominence as a 16-year-old with Leeds, but City made the first move, aiming to make Milner the second Villa player in as many summer's to leave the Midands for Manchester.
However, Villa have revealed that they have turned down the offer and are hoping to convince Milner to sign a new contract with the club.
"We have received an offer from Manchester City for James Milner and this has been firmly rejected," a Villa spokesman said.
"We plan to sit down with James and his representative after the World Cup to agree a new long-term deal and this remains our position.''
Milner has just enjoyed a hugely successful season and was recently crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year, with his upturn in fortunes coinciding with Villa boss Martin O'Neill's decision to switch him from a wide role into the middle of the park.
The 24 year-old is currently halfway through the four-year contract he signed when joining Villa for £12 million from Newcastle in the summer of 2008.
England coach Fabio Capello recently said that Milner was "the future'' of English football and Milner has made rapid strides under O'Neill.
Gareth Barry swapped Villa Park for Eastlands in a £12 million deal and O'Neill will certainly be desperate to hold onto one of his prized assets this time around.
Milner helped Villa reach the final of the Carling Cup, the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the top six of the Premier League and owner Randy Lerner stated only last week that he was hopeful of the player remaining at Villa.
But there is no doubt he has become one of the hottest young properties in English football and his value could soar even higher if he has a successful World Cup.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=788886&sec=transfers&cc=471620M offer was turned down
