edgecroft
Well-Known Member
I found this interesting, I hadn't seen the highlighted part anywhere else. From Times Online, May 21, 2010:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article7132032.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 132032.ece</a>
James Milner still set fair with England amid talk of jumping ship
Oliver Kay, Football Correspondent
Fabio Capello did not want transfer speculation swirling around the England camp in the build-up to the World Cup finals, but if there is one young player who will be undaunted at being the subject of a £20 million bid from Manchester City, it is James Milner.
There are many reasons why Capello, like Martin O’Neill, has come to regard Milner as indispensable. Ability is one and versatility another, but it is his attitude, his sense of professionalism and dedication, that tells the England manager he can count on the Aston Villa midfield player, no matter what the uncertainty over which club’s colours he will be wearing next season.
Milner refers to his time with the Midlands club in the perfect tense, saying “I’ve enjoyed my time at Villa”, and he talks of his desire “to win trophies”, but it does not add up to the come-and-get-me plea that City or any other suitors may be hoping for. He is not the type and, while he is seeking clarity from Villa before departing for South Africa on June 2, his own mind appeared free from distractions as he spoke at England’s training camp in Irdning, Austria.
“The speculation isn’t distracting,” Milner said. “There are always going to be rumours about every player in every club when the transfer window opens. To be linked with any clubs is flattering, but I’m just concentrating on England at this time.”
However, Milner is seeking urgent talks with his present club over his future. England play Mexico at Wembley on Monday night and Capello will give his players the next day off, allowing Milner to travel to Birmingham to speak to Villa officials.
There's more, but it's about Englands world cup squad and Milner's history.
---------------------------
Then there's this from the Guardian:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/may/20/james-milner-aston-villa-manchester-city" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010 ... ester-city</a>
Manchester City may offer £30m to prise James Milner from Aston Villa
Daniel Taylor and Stuart James
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 20 May 2010 23.00 BST
Manchester City are to continue their pursuit of James Milner and have also contacted Aston Villa about the potential availability of his team-mate Ashley Young. City have been encouraged to believe that Milner has set his mind on joining them and that he may even agitate for a move if the issue threatens to drag on over the summer.
Milner is City's top target but it has emerged that when Brian Marwood, the club's football administrator, spoke to Villa before the end of the season to inquire about the midfielder, he also asked about Young. Marwood was told neither player was for sale but that did not stop City from making a £20m offer for Milner yesterday, which was turned down.
City's information is that Milner, despite his public diplomacy, wants to follow the same route as Gareth Barry, having decided he stands a better chance of winning trophies at Eastlands. Young's future at Villa also remains unclear, although City have yet to follow up their initial interest in the winger. It does, however, appear extremely unlikely Villa would allow both players to leave.
City fully expected Villa to resist their opening bid for Milner and are prepared for a lengthy battle in stark contrast to the manner of their negotiations for Barry last summer. Their financial resources are so immense they could feasibly go as high as £30m.
In an attempt to keep Milner Villa have indicated a willingness to bring forward contract talks scheduled for after the World Cup. The player is also understood to be keen to hear what Villa have to offer before he travels to South Africa. It is likely discussions will be held during a 36-hour break from England duty which follows Monday's friendly against Mexico at Wembley.
Milner has replaced Fernando Torres as City's principal summer target. An extensive list of possible signings has already seen one player ticked off, with the Germany defender Jerome Boateng due to arrive from Hamburg for around £11m, but City are increasingly coming round to the sense that their failure to qualify for the Champions League has ended any hope of persuading Torres to leave Anfield.
Their ambitions in the transfer market also do not stretch as far as Steven Gerrard, who is considered out of their reach, while City have been surprised by reports linking them with Barcelona's Swedish international striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The club's fifth-placed finish means there are no longer players on their list who could be described as established superstars in the mould of previous targets such as Kaka.
Milner, however, has been aware of their interest for a few months and noticeably declined to commit himself to Villa when asked direct questions about his future while at England's training camp in Austria. "I want to finish my career, go into my trophy room and see winners' medals," he said. "I've enjoyed my time at Aston Villa, it's a great club to be at and we are moving forward in the right direction ," Milner said. "Do I expect to be at Villa next season? I don't know. I've worked as hard as I can and concentrated on club football while the season has been on. Now it has finished, I'm focusing on England - and that's the only thing I am focusing on. To be linked with any clubs is flattering but I'm just concentrating on England at this time."
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article7132032.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 132032.ece</a>
James Milner still set fair with England amid talk of jumping ship
Oliver Kay, Football Correspondent
Fabio Capello did not want transfer speculation swirling around the England camp in the build-up to the World Cup finals, but if there is one young player who will be undaunted at being the subject of a £20 million bid from Manchester City, it is James Milner.
There are many reasons why Capello, like Martin O’Neill, has come to regard Milner as indispensable. Ability is one and versatility another, but it is his attitude, his sense of professionalism and dedication, that tells the England manager he can count on the Aston Villa midfield player, no matter what the uncertainty over which club’s colours he will be wearing next season.
Milner refers to his time with the Midlands club in the perfect tense, saying “I’ve enjoyed my time at Villa”, and he talks of his desire “to win trophies”, but it does not add up to the come-and-get-me plea that City or any other suitors may be hoping for. He is not the type and, while he is seeking clarity from Villa before departing for South Africa on June 2, his own mind appeared free from distractions as he spoke at England’s training camp in Irdning, Austria.
“The speculation isn’t distracting,” Milner said. “There are always going to be rumours about every player in every club when the transfer window opens. To be linked with any clubs is flattering, but I’m just concentrating on England at this time.”
However, Milner is seeking urgent talks with his present club over his future. England play Mexico at Wembley on Monday night and Capello will give his players the next day off, allowing Milner to travel to Birmingham to speak to Villa officials.
There's more, but it's about Englands world cup squad and Milner's history.
---------------------------
Then there's this from the Guardian:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/may/20/james-milner-aston-villa-manchester-city" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010 ... ester-city</a>
Manchester City may offer £30m to prise James Milner from Aston Villa
Daniel Taylor and Stuart James
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 20 May 2010 23.00 BST
Manchester City are to continue their pursuit of James Milner and have also contacted Aston Villa about the potential availability of his team-mate Ashley Young. City have been encouraged to believe that Milner has set his mind on joining them and that he may even agitate for a move if the issue threatens to drag on over the summer.
Milner is City's top target but it has emerged that when Brian Marwood, the club's football administrator, spoke to Villa before the end of the season to inquire about the midfielder, he also asked about Young. Marwood was told neither player was for sale but that did not stop City from making a £20m offer for Milner yesterday, which was turned down.
City's information is that Milner, despite his public diplomacy, wants to follow the same route as Gareth Barry, having decided he stands a better chance of winning trophies at Eastlands. Young's future at Villa also remains unclear, although City have yet to follow up their initial interest in the winger. It does, however, appear extremely unlikely Villa would allow both players to leave.
City fully expected Villa to resist their opening bid for Milner and are prepared for a lengthy battle in stark contrast to the manner of their negotiations for Barry last summer. Their financial resources are so immense they could feasibly go as high as £30m.
In an attempt to keep Milner Villa have indicated a willingness to bring forward contract talks scheduled for after the World Cup. The player is also understood to be keen to hear what Villa have to offer before he travels to South Africa. It is likely discussions will be held during a 36-hour break from England duty which follows Monday's friendly against Mexico at Wembley.
Milner has replaced Fernando Torres as City's principal summer target. An extensive list of possible signings has already seen one player ticked off, with the Germany defender Jerome Boateng due to arrive from Hamburg for around £11m, but City are increasingly coming round to the sense that their failure to qualify for the Champions League has ended any hope of persuading Torres to leave Anfield.
Their ambitions in the transfer market also do not stretch as far as Steven Gerrard, who is considered out of their reach, while City have been surprised by reports linking them with Barcelona's Swedish international striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The club's fifth-placed finish means there are no longer players on their list who could be described as established superstars in the mould of previous targets such as Kaka.
Milner, however, has been aware of their interest for a few months and noticeably declined to commit himself to Villa when asked direct questions about his future while at England's training camp in Austria. "I want to finish my career, go into my trophy room and see winners' medals," he said. "I've enjoyed my time at Aston Villa, it's a great club to be at and we are moving forward in the right direction ," Milner said. "Do I expect to be at Villa next season? I don't know. I've worked as hard as I can and concentrated on club football while the season has been on. Now it has finished, I'm focusing on England - and that's the only thing I am focusing on. To be linked with any clubs is flattering but I'm just concentrating on England at this time."