Aston Villa have turned down a £20 million offer from Manchester City for midfielder James Milner.
The England international is being touted as the player to shine for Fabio Capello at the World Cup and Villa are desperate to hold on to one of their star players.
Milner is half-way through a four and a half year contract with Villa and a spokesman said that the club hopes to renegotiate terms when he returns from South Africa.
“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,†a representative said last night.
It is likely that Manchester City will step up their attempts to sign Milner and a higher bid may be offered during the summer.
