Villa boss wants right price for Milner

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill will allow James Milner to leave the club for Manchester City if they meet the asking price for the England midfielder.

Milner told O'Neill before the World Cup, where he started three of England's four games, that he wanted to leave the club he joined for a reported £12million from Newcastle two years ago. City had a bid of around £20million rejected in May for the 24-year-old and Villa are believed to be looking for a figure in the region of £30million.

O'Neill, who revealed he has not spoken to Milner since before he left for the World Cup, told www.avfc.co.uk: "The state of affairs is really straightforward. James and his agent came to see us before the World Cup and intimated that they would like to go."

He added: "Then Manchester City made the offer, which we told them about. There is a difference of valuation at this moment between the buying club and the selling club. That may well be resolved and if that is the case then absolutely fine.

"I think James' agent has told our chief executive that he wouldn't be signing a new contract. Obviously that puts a different slant on things, like everything else.

"If a fee is agreed, at the end of the day, the player can leave." Aston Villa Tickets are now available online through our secure and guaranteed online booking system. you can also buy Arsenal Tickets, Blackpool Tickets, Chelsea Tickets, Everton Tickets and Premiership football tickets for all the other teams of the League. So Premiership tickets are at a distance of one click from the fans.

Petrov backs ONeill transfer policy

Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has backed Martin O'Neill to strengthen the squad despite another slow start to the summer transfer window. O'Neill has yet to capture his first signing of the summer, but it is not unusual for the Northern Irishman at this stage and Petrov is sure there is no need to panick. "I don't think it's a problem because, as we all know, our boss will be doing everything in the last three or four days!" said Petrov. "I am sure the manager and the chairman, who was down at the training ground last week, are working hard on getting new players in.

"And I am certain they are going to strengthen before the season starts because both men have great ambitions for Villa. "They want to take this club even further and that's why there will definitely be new signings coming in. "And if the boss brings in the same sort of quality he did this time last year - with (Richard) Dunne, (James) Collins and (Stephen) Warnock - then we will all be very happy. "The impact they had on our team was huge. If we can get that sort of player in again we'll be very pleased."

Now buy your favourite Aston Villa Tickets online through our secure and guaranteed online booking system. you can also buy Arsenal Tickets, Blackpool Tickets, Chelsea Tickets, Everton Tickets and Premiership football tickets for all the other teams of the League. So Premiership tickets are at a distance of one click from the fans.

Downing critical of Capello

Stewart Downing has hit out at England manager Fabio Capello for leaving him out of his World Cup squad without explanation.The Aston Villa winger's hopes of making the trip to South Africa had been in doubt after he missed the start of last season as he recovered from a broken ankle and then struggled to recapture his best form, scoring just three goals in all competitions.Downing did not even make Capello's initial 30-man squad for the tournament but the 26-year-old was still left disappointed with the manner of his omission.He was quoted in The Sun as saying: "A lot of people who had not played were in the squad as were people out of form - but others were left out."It was a little strange and I was very disappointed as I thought, maybe, I had a chance to get in the 30 at least."He obviously has his reasons why but the disappointing thing was I didn't get told why I wasn't in the squad. That's his choice and there's no point in moaning about it now."

You can buy your favourite Aston Villa Tickets online through our secure and guaranteed online booking system. you can also buy Arsenal Tickets, Blackpool Tickets, Chelsea Tickets, Everton Tickets and Premiership football tickets for all the other teams of the League. So Premiership tickets are at a distance of one click from the fans.