New £30m bid for Villa's James Milner

Manchester City are prepared to pay up to £30million to land James Milner - as Villa moved to bring forward contract talks with the midfielder.

City, who have already had a £20million bid rejected, have made Milner their top summer transfer target and are willing to make the England star one of the most expensive players in British transfer history.

They are believed to be preparing an improved £24million offer but, with Manchester United and Chelsea also keen, are ready to go higher still in the likely event it is knocked back.

Worryingly for Villa fans, City's interest extends to Ashley Young too, but the mega-rich Eastlands club have made nothing more than an enquiry over his availability at this stage.

Just as with Milner, it is understood Villa told City they have no interest in selling with the claret and blues now intending to bring forward discussions over a new deal with the player to before the World Cup.

Those talks are almost certain to take place after Monday's friendly with Mexico, when the players have a 36-hour break from duty.

Milner, who has two years remaining on his existing contract, is also believed to be eager to hear Villa's plans both for him and strengthening this summer.

His response to questions over his future has merely fuelled speculation of his departure, after conceding he is unsure what the summer holds and is flattered to be linked with other clubs.

He said: "Do I expect to be at Villa next season? I don't know. I've worked as hard as I can and concentrated on club football while the season has been on.

"Now it has finished, I'm focusing on England and that's the only thing I am focusing on. The speculation about my own future is not distracting. There are always going to be rumours about every player in every club when the transfer window opens.

"To be linked with any clubs is flattering but I'm just concentrating on England at this time.

"I've enjoyed my time at Aston Villa, it's a good club, we've had a lot of success this season."