James Milner joins Man City - Ireland joins Villa

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MAN CITY TO DUMP CRAIG BELLAMY, STEPHEN IRELAND AND ROQUE SANTA CRUZ
ABOVE: Manchester City seem set to offload Roque Santa Cruz and Stephen Ireland 28th July 2010 By Dave ArmitageYour Shout ( 0 )

MANCHESTER CITY are planning to offload Craig Bellamy, Stephen Ireland and Roque Santa Cruz as part of a summer exodus.


Bellamy and Ireland are both being offered as bait in City’s bid to land Aston Villa midfielder James Milner.

And Santa Cruz could be on his way to Stoke after the Potters launched a club record £8m bid for the Paraguay striker.
City are desperate to offload players to meet new Premier League rules limiting each club to a squad of 25 this season.

But the bad news is that Villa are not interested in taking City’s cast-offs as the bulk of any settlement for Milner.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill values the England winger at around £30m and wants cash to reinvest in his own transfer targets.

The Midlands club are also struggling with the size of their wage bill and cannot afford to take on Bellamy’s bumper £90,000-a-week deal.

Milner has been unsettled by all the speculation and held clear-the-air talks with O’Neill at the club’s training ground on Monday.

And he is set to fly out with his team-mates to Portugal today for friendly matches against Benfica and Feyenoord in the Guadiana Cup tournament.

That is the clearest indication yet that Milner will remain a Villa player unless City make them an offer they can’t refuse.

Meanwhile, Stoke boss Tony Pulis has made contact with City about Santa Cruz and has been told that the 28-year-old will be allowed to leave.

Santa Cruz only arrived at Eastlands a year ago in an £18m move from Blackburn but scored just four goals last season.

Stoke have been battling to make a major striker signing all summer and Santa Cruz’s availability has shot him to the top of their wish list. Pulis said: “We need to bring a few in and we are looking to do that.

“We have been working diligently to get deals done, but it’s not gone for us yet.”

Pulis also remains keen on West Ham’s Carlton Cole and Hugo Rodallega at Wigan.

Santa Cruz has not featured in City’s tour of America as he is on holiday after helping Paraguay reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/vie ... anta-Cruz/

I know it`s only the star but I think this might suprise a few

But the bad news is that Villa are not interested in taking City’s cast-offs as the bulk of any settlement for Milner.

does that mean MON is not interested in any of ManC`s surplus players ? And if so does that mean that he has other targets in mind e.g Flamini ?

[platypus13]

I'm embarrassed to admit that having just thought about Milly staying, I'm not arsed one way or the other. £24m? Bring it on. Milly stays? Fair dos. Just sort it!

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[pingjim]

The only way he will leave now is if City come in very late with a £30m bid.

They did that with Everton and Lescott and it meant Everton didn't have enough time to spend, replace or strenghen.

MON has to bare this in mind !

[AvonVillain]

I hope he goes.. We don't need someone so uncommitted to the cause. Why wouldn't you know where you'll be playing next season James? You're under contract and the manager has turned you into the young player of the year.

That would have been my question to him. I think he's answer is frankly unforgivable as far as the Villa's concerned..

Why James? Why don't you know? Cock-head.

[herman22]

He needs to just set a deadline! If the transfer fee isn't agreed by say 9th of August then all negotiations are canceled because we need to focus on our own targets! We cant let this ruin the start of our season!

[Zero7]

Villa should grow a big pair of balls and tell city to f-off, then show some intent and sign some quality palyers...

[marshall]

I really did not think he would still be wearing Villa colours back in April.

[pingjim]

Nice Gucci man bag, he's sporting there !!

[marshall]

I bet Man City brought him that to make him sign for them on the Cheap.

[pingjim]

[towbartone]

[quote="AvonVillain"]I hope he goes.. We don't need someone so uncommitted to the cause.


I think we should be careful about jumping onto bandwagons here.

I wouldnt think Milner is the type to be uncommitted, I reckon that if he stays he will give of his best.

He has his pride and his principles and I woulodnt think that he will let Villa down if he stays with us

[BobMarley1945-81 In this bright future, you can't forget your past]

but surely with all these rumours flying around, if he was staying with us, or wanted to, then he would have said by now. I mean it's not hard is it
"I'm staying with Villa"
Story over, it's getting beyond a joke now

[DanEgan12345]

I just clicked on a link on newsnow which took me to someone posting that the deal was done... which isn't true.

However, one of the comments underneath made me chuckle. He was going on about Milner and Lescott and wondering what they're trying to achieve by paying so much for these players.

Milner and Lescott?... Sounds like a northern hat shop

[Muz]

Something else I would take into account. Milner has 2 years left on his contract. If he refuses to sign a new contract then his value to us is only going to go down after this transfer window shuts. For this reason, I either want Milner to sign a new contract or for him to be sold this summer.

[platypus13]

I concur.

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