Milner has made it clear to England team-mates that he cannot ignore the kind of wages a move to Eastlands would guarantee. Moving to City would even be more lucrative than joining champions Chelsea.
Chelsea have refused to go above £20 million to secure the 24-year-old.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill shelved plans to open contract talks with Milner prior to the World Cup after City made the first of two opening offers to sign him, and Villa officials still hope they can talk Milner into staying.
But City refuse to be put off.
They are even prepared to pay £30m to receive official permission to thrash out personal terms with the player. MIRROR
De Jong to join SWP on City scrapheap
Nigel De Jong is set to become a shock casualty at Manchester City following the Blues’ £24million capture of Yaya Toure.
The Dutch international arrived at Eastlands just 17 months ago in a £16m deal from Hamburg.
But his future is in serious doubt after Roberto Mancini made Toure his first big-name signing of the summer after finally agreeing a deal with Barcelona for the Ivory Coast international.
City now have four defensive central midfielders – with Gareth Barry and Patrick Vieira also in Mancini’s squad – and Vincent Kompany has also been used in that role.
That could make De Jong surplus to requirements, even though he has become a cult hero with the City fans after some tenacious displays.
There would be no shortage of interest in the 25-year-old, who is anchoring Holland’s midfield at the World Cup.
Mancini is ready for a major clear-out of players once he has recruited the signings he has earmarked.
Sunday Mirror Sport revealed two weeks that Barcelona’s Brazilian full-back Dani Alves is on City’s radar, with the world’s richest club ready to pay £40m.
Alves’s arrival would enable Mancini to listen to offers for Micah Richards and Nedum Onuoha. Spurs want Richards, while Sunderland and Everton are ready to vie for Onuoha.
Fans’ favourite Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has failed to agree a new contract with City because of his wage demands, may find himself out in the cold if Valencia’s £30m-rated winger David Silva can be tempted to Manchester. MIRROR
Robinho has decided that he does not want to stay at Eastlands and so Manchester City have offered the Brazilian star to Barcelona.
Robinho, who is leading Brazil's attack at the World Cup, was bought by Manchester City from Real Madrid in September 2008 for €42.5million. However, he has since proved to be an expensive luxury at Eastlands. He was loaned to Brazilian side Santos in January where he has performed consistently well, helping them to the Paulista title.
Spanish daily ‘Sport’ claims that Manchester City regard Barcelona as “one of the few solvent clubs in Europe” and are therefore offering the Catalan giants the chance to sign Robinho , who would be likely to jump at the chance of a move to the Nou Camp.
Although Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is keen on Robinho , the Spanish champions will only consider signing the 26-year-old if the asking price is a lot lower than Manchester City demand. City would hope to recoup much of the huge fee they paid Real Madrid, but ‘Sport’ reports that Barcelona will not pay more than €22million for Robinho . In addition, any bid for the Brazilian would be conditional on first offloading striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic , which looks a distant prospect at the moment.
Although City will hope that Robinho has a good World Cup, which will increase his value, ‘Sport’ speculates that Barcelona may look to sign Valencia’s Juan Mata , who is four years younger than Robinho , less controversial than the Brazilian and would likely cost less.
More Robinho bollox
The news that Manchester City and Robinho have agreed a parting of ways offers an interesting dilemma for the Eastlands club and, having forked out a British record for the wayward Brazilian, his exit could define the club as much as they hoped his arrival would.
Spending £32.75m on Real Madrid's Robinho, beating Chelsea to his signature, was supposed to be the start of it all when the Abu Dhabi United Group arrived with a bang on September 1 2008.
But after revelling in having a genuine world superstar, earning a reported £160,000 a week, and being impressed by some of his early performances, there were few CIty fans crying when he finally left for Santos on loan in January.
Robinho, it seemed, was always destined for petulance when things did not go exactly how he wanted them.
Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini were both criticised, it was always someone else's fault but looking back, it feels like this was never a deal that was going to end well.
Until now, his intentions have been blurred by mixed messages, loving life back at his first club and enjoying being a key part of the Brazil side in the early stages of the World Cup.
But now it appears that after his father and agent met with City's Garry Cook and Brian Marwood, Robinho will be allowed to leave for the right price this summer.
Reports suggest that City could be looking for as much as £20m for Robinho and they are hoping that he continues his fine form in South Africa to help his market value.
Ideally, a buyer will be found immediately and he will not have to return to City, where it has been claimed, he has been a disruptive influence in the past.
Just as City are determined not to be messed when they sign players, this is the first major test of whether they stick to the same ruthless and bullish attitude when it is time for players to move on.
It can only be assumed that just as clubs jack up their prices when City are on the other end of the phone, they will haggle even harder than they normally would when they are trying to take a player out of Eastlands.
Robinho has three years left on his contract and if City believe he is worth £20m, it is in their long-term interests that that is what they get for him, even though the likes of Marseille and Besiktas might offer a quick and easy solution.
After bringing in so many players over the past 21 months, as the squad is renewed, this is a scenario that they will face time and again over the next couple of years and, already, Cardiff are hoping that City will help finance their move to take Craig Bellamy on loan.
What next? City paying all but £5 a week of Joleon Lescott's wages for the defender to play for Altincham?
City have always struggled to live down the perception that they are a bit of a joke and getting this sale right will be key to protecting their growing credibility.
CRAIG BELLAMY has been handed an olive branch by Roberto Mancini and told to drive Manchester City into the Champions League.
The fiery Welshman looked set for a summer exit from Eastlands after a series of fall-outs with Mancini last season.
He has attracted interest from both Tottenham and his home-town club Cardiff.
The Welsh side wanted to make him their marquee signing after the club was taken over by a Far East consortium.
But boss Mancini is insistent Bellamy can still play a major role in pushing City one step further next season.
Despite some fairly public bust-ups, the Italian has told the City hierarchy he holds Bellamy in the "highest regard" and is desperate to keep hold of him.
Mancini believes Bellamy's passion is vital and he wants to maintain a British nucleus to the City squad.
Bellamy, 30, will be used more sparingly next term after a series of injuries restricted his appearances last season. But Mancini sees him as a game-altering alternative.
For his part, Bellamy maintains he will always give 100 per cent for the City cause despite clashing with the club over the departure of Mark Hughes and Mancini's training methods.
He is a hugely influential presence in the dressing-room and that has made life difficult at times for Mancini.
But the manager knows Bellamy has the ability to change matches either in the starting line-up or from the bench. And if that means tolerating a certain level of friction, that is a price Mancini is prepared to play.
Bellamy knows he would not come close to matching his £90,000-a-week wages at any other club. And he is excited by the prospect of new arrivals helping the club challenge for a top-four Premier League slot.
He knows competition will be stiff for a place in the City attack and accepts he will be used next season as an occasional impact player.
And while he and Mancini will never be bosom buddies, Bellamy has a grudging respect for the Italian. NOTW
on the other hand ...
STEVE McClaren is maintaining a discreet silence over who he wants to win today’s big match.
But once the hostilities are over the former England manager – now boss of Wolfsburg in Germany – is set to return to his old country in a bid to boost the fortunes of his new one.
McClaren, dubbed “the wally with the brolly” after failing to take England to Euro 2008, is hoping to persuade Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy to kick-start his faltering career in Germany.
Bellamy is the player McClaren wants to replace Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, who ironically is one of the big-name stars being eyed by City as well as AC Milan and Real Madrid.
The £30million-rated Dzeko could join City in a player-plus-cash deal.
Man City chase Ziegler
Manchester City continue to raid Serie A in the transfer market, as Roberto Mancini prepares a swoop for Sampdoria’s Reto Ziegler.
The Eastlands side is repeatedly linked with a host of names who ply their trade in the Peninsula.
According to Datasport, City have made enquiries after Sampdoria full-back Ziegler.
He starred for Switzerland in the World Cup, including a 1-0 victory over Spain, and can play as either a full-back or further up the wing.
Ziegler already has experience of the Premier League thanks to his time at Tottenham Hotspur.
It was also reported that Manchester City had a deal with Roma to take Marco Motta.
However, the Giallorossi lost the blind auction with Udinese, so the remaining 50 per cent of his contract went to the Friulani.
Tottenham have joined Chelsea, Manchester City and AC Milan in the race to sign Sevilla's Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano, who is rated at £20m. NOTW
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.wsn.com/blog/2010/05/19/wag- ... esca-lodo/
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Chelsea are eyeing up £22m-rated Ajax striker Luis Suarez who has impressed for Uruguay at the World Cup. The 23-year-old, who scored 49 goals in 48 games last season, is also attracting attention from Manchester United, AC Milan and Juventus. caughtoffside.com
Spurs are also poised to make an £8m move for Paris St Germain's 26-year-old midfielder Stephane Sessegnon. Sunday Mirror
Eidur Gudjohnsen is poised to join Fulham unless Tottenham intervene either to extend his loan deal or sign him permanently from French club Monaco. Sunday Mirror
Inter Milan manager Rafael Benitez is so keen to sign Javier Mascherano from his former club Liverpool that he is ready to offer defensive midfielder Esteban Cambiasso in a player-plus-cash deal. Sunday Mirror
Benitez also wants to take three other Liverpool players to Italy and is interested in England full-back Glen Johnson, Danish centre-back Daniel Agger and Brazilian midfielder Lucas. caughtoffside.com
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to stump up £32m to capture Serie A-based pair Simon Kjaer and Mario Balotelli. Kjaer, 21, is looking for a move after spending two seasons at the heart of the Palermo defence, while 19-year-old striker Balotelli has courted controversy at Inter Milan, wearing an AC Milan shirt on television. caughtoffside.com
Chile winger Alexis Sanchez, who plays his club football for Udinese, has his heart set on a move to Manchester United, according to one of his team-mates at the World Cup finals. News of the World
Stoke striker Tuncay has emerged as a surprise £4m target for German giants Schalke. The 28-year-old, who has spent one season at the Potters, is also a target of Sunderland and Blackburn. Sunday Mirror
England and West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green is being lined up to replace Mark Schwarzer at Fulham, with the Australian keeper bound for Arsenal. News of the World
Panathinaikos and Paris St Germain are locked in a battle to sign William Gallas after the Arsenal defender, who is out of contract with the Gunners, rejected a move to Juventus. Sunday Mirror
OTHER BOLLOX
Injury-plagued Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate will head back to Spurs this week for an assessment on his long-standing groin problem, which restricted him to just three appearances last season. News of the World
Port Vale boss Micky Adams could be offered a return to Leicester City if current Foxes manager Nigel Pearson takes over the vacant job at Hull. Adams guided Leicester to the Premier League in 2003. Sunday Mirror
Rugby union star Danny Cipriani is ready to abandon the sport and try to forge a career in football. The fly-half, who had trials with Queens Park Rangers and Reading as a teenager, has been approached by Fulham with a view to having a trial next month. Mail on Sunday
