Manager Martin O’Neill has admitted he can offer no guarantees James Milner will be a Villa player next season – but insisted he will give his all for the club if he stays.

Milner missed last night’s 2-1 friendly win at Walsall but is still scheduled to travel to Portugal for the Guadiana Cup later today as the summer-long transfer saga, which surrounds the midfielder and a move to Manchester City, continues.

City have failed to return with a second bid since seeing their offer of £20million rejected over two months ago and are thought to be unwilling to go over £24million, with the Villa boss conceding even he is in the dark over the England star’s future.

He said: “At this moment, in terms of where we are with James, we don’t really know.

“The negotiations with Manchester City and ourselves are being conducted by the chief executive Paul Faulkner and owner Randy Lerner. Obviously I’ll be guided by them and see how things are going.

“The latest state of play seems to be that Manchester City, I think, feel as if they’ve gone as far as they want to. We’ll wait with baited breath on that one, myself included.

“The overriding opinion of Villa fans is they would love James to stay at the football club.

“But, as I speak here now at this minute, in my honest opinion I cannot guarantee that.”

O’Neill held clear-the-air talks with Milner, who has two years to run on his existing deal, on his return to training on Monday after the midfielder was upset by the manager’s claim he had “intimated” before the World Cup he wanted to leave.

But the Villa boss has given his backing to the player, vowing he will not let the club down should he stay put.

He said: “Will Milner give his all? I don’t think any of that would ever be in any question, knowing the lad.

“James loves playing and he played many a game last season when others might not have done.”

O’Neill even admitted he could “understand” why a move to City would be an attractive proposition to players.

He added: “I can understand totally players would be affected by offers from Manchester City, particularly now where it looks as if they can get who they want.”