WANTAWAY Newcastle United midfielder James Milner was today playing the waiting game after news broke of his transfer request.
Aston Villa are ready to make an improved offer for Milner, having already had a bid for the 22-year-old rejected.
The Milner saga, which has dragged on all summer, will have been top of the agenda at last night's meeting between manager Kevin Kee
gan and owner Mike Ashley.
Keegan is desperate to hang on to Milner, but Ashley – knowing he has three years left on his present contract – is unwilling to sanction a bumper new deal, and the winger has become unsettled in recent months.
And Milner – represented by the Professional Footballers' Association's Mick Maguire – is now waiting on the outcome of the Keegan-Ashley talks.
However, a new contract offer is not expected to be forthcoming, despite Keegan's long-held belief that keeping Milner at St James's Park is crucial to the club's development.
McGuire, in Monaco today on PFA business, said he was "disappointed" the club went public with the transfer request yesterday afternoon.
He went on to reveal United had been informed of Milner's desire to leave St James's Park on August 20, with both parties having agreed that it should remain private at the time.
Newcastle, for their part, have always maintained Milner was not for sale, and Keegan has gone out of his way to ensure the player is happy at the club.
Yesterday's move has ensured that Milner will be seen by fans as the prime mover behind any switch.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill – who almost signed Milner two years ago – was at the Ricoh Arena on Tuesday to see Milner star in United's Carling Cup win over Coventry City.
Keegan, meanwhile, will be hoping that Milner, should he leave, will be the only player to quit the club before the transfer window closes on Monday night.
Meanwhile, Rosenberg have responded to the latest developments by offering Newcastle their attacking midfielder Per Ciljan Skjelbred.
The full article contains 337 words and appears in Shields Gazette newspaper.
