Man City Make £20m Offer For Milner

Degag

On SSN right now.

Esse85

I know its just an opening bid but they will really have to do alot better than that.

Degag

Degag wrote: »

On SSN right now.

And it starts....

keane2097

That much ought to buy him really.

I reckon they'll end up paying 25M straight though.

Ush1

Is he that much better than Stephen Ireland?

Not the player to get them into the top four imo.

Degag

Can see Villa holding out for €30m. They're not exactly short of money themselves and they know that City have it to burn.

MuPpItJoCkEy

Wouldn't be surprised if Stephen Ireland was used as an exchange in a deal.

Esse85

Degag wrote: »

Can see Villa holding out for €30m. They're not exactly short of money themselves and they know that City have it to burn.

Exactly, and if he impresses at the WC, that will increase his stock further.

I think S.Ireland could be included in whatever deal there is.

I also feel this transfer saga could be dragged out over the summer.

keane2097

Degag wrote: »

Can see Villa holding out for €30m. They're not exactly short of money themselves and they know that City have it to burn.

Whuh?

Sell-to-buy or free transfers is Martin O'Neill's mandate for the summer...

mayordenis

Milner might be wise to stick with Villa anyway - for a young guy he's been to alot of clubs and in fairness has always looked good but he's had a season and a halfish of brilliant football now - I just feel SWP transfered at a similar-ish age and maybe another season or 2 of kicking on from where he is now could help.
On the other hand money and playing with some of the world stars may be too hard to turn down, but back to the first hand the managerial merry-go-round at City that has potential to be common place isn't going to help him either.

Esse85

keane2097 wrote: »

Whuh?

Sell-to-buy or free transfers is Martin O'Neill's mandate for the summer...

keane2097

Esse85 wrote: »

Randy Lerner wrote:

Our ambitions to get better remain and we are not in some sort of mode in which we are shutting the door on spending on players. But to say that alone would be misleading. I think there's a sell-to-buy policy in nearly every organisation on the planet. I think it's good business

Que?

Degag

keane2097 wrote: »

Whuh?

Sell-to-buy or free transfers is Martin O'Neill's mandate for the summer...

Doubt it, Randy Lerner is going to finance him to some degree.

JPA

keane2097 wrote: »

Whuh?

Sell-to-buy or free transfers is Martin O'Neill's mandate for the summer...

Ya right.

Juan Pablo

Not sure about this one, good player but not one that would take us to the next level, especially not at that kind of money.

JPA

James Milner is in the top 5 English players IMO.

dreamers75

JPA wrote: »

James Milner is in the top 5 English players IMO.

Poor indictment of english players tbh.

JPA

dreamers75 wrote: »

Poor indictment of english players tbh.

James Milner scoffs at your opinion.

Esse85

Juan Pablo wrote: »

Not sure about this one, good player but not one that would take us to the next level, especially not at that kind of money.

Surely the transfer fee will have zero impact as to whether he's the type of player that would take City to the "next level".

Mr.Nice Guy

I think he would be a very good signing for them but I agree with mayordenis that it might be wise for him to stay at Villa.

GSPfan

Manchesters answer to Real Madrid. Where are all these midfielders going to play? I know.... midfield, but they all ready have a bag load of players who will expect to be first choice in the centre of midfield. Then they have two or three options on each wing.

Neil3030

keane2097 wrote: »

Que?

Originally Posted by Randy Lerner
Our ambitions to get better remain and we are not in some sort of mode in which we are shutting the door on spending on players. But to say that alone would be misleading. I think there's a sell-to-buy policy in nearly every organisation on the planet. I think it's good business

No sell to buy. Cheers for the quote!

flahavaj

Milner's a sensible enough lad from what I know of him, I reckon he'll hang on for a bigger club or realise City is barely a sideway step from Villa at the moment and stay where he is.

Enjoying the Villa defensiveness in the thread though.

Columbia

People here don't really seem to appreciate the current problems at Aston Villa. Their net debt this year increased by about 45%, from £72.3m to £97.7m (if we include post-balance sheet loan notes from Randy Lerner to the club). Not massive in it's own right, but a huge mountain of debt for a club whose wages to turnover ratio (90%) is (I think) the highest in the league, and probably one of the highest in football. Essentially, 90% of their income (prizemoney, sponsorship, match tickets, everything) is eaten up by player's wages.

The only thing in Villa's favour is that the brunt of the debt is owed to Lerner's own companies, rather than banks. However people here seem to be suggesting that Villa are minted and that Lerner is bankrolling the club, which just simply isn't the case.

Make no mistake, Villa have taken a gamble (putting up huge wages to attract players to propel them to the CL) and it hasn't worked. Villa's costs, while not quite out of control just yet, are a very slender margin away from it. To stay in control of the situation, Villa will need to make a net profit on transfers this summer. If they don't do this, and their income takes a hit for whatever reason, they will be in huge trouble.

Mr Alan

Neil, are you totally ignoring the next sentence where he says to do EXACTLY what you did, would be misleading? before stating that he thinks the sell to buy model is a good one & its one thats in every organisation on the planet?

JPA

Columbia wrote: »

People here don't really seem to appreciate the current problems at Aston Villa. Their net debt this year increased by about 45%, from £72.3m to £97.7m (if we include post-balance sheet loan notes from Randy Lerner to the club). Not massive in it's own right, but a huge mountain of debt for a club whose wages to turnover ratio (90%) is (I think) the highest in the league, and probably one of the highest in football. Essentially, 90% of their income (prizemoney, sponsorship, match tickets, everything) is eaten up by player's wages.

The only thing in Villa's favour is that the brunt of the debt is owed to Lerner's own companies, rather than banks. However people here seem to be suggesting that Villa are minted and that Lerner is bankrolling the club, which just simply isn't the case.

Make no mistake, Villa have taken a gamble (putting up huge wages to attract players to propel them to the CL) and it hasn't worked. Villa's costs, while not quite out of control just yet, are a very slender margin away from it. To stay in control of the situation, Villa will need to make a net profit on transfers this summer. If they don't do this, and their income takes a hit for whatever reason, they will be in huge trouble.

But you could say the same about Chelsea and no one bats an eye lid about them.

Mr Alan wrote: »

Neil, are you totally ignoring the next sentence where he says to do EXACTLY what you did, would be misleading? before stating that he thinks the sell to buy model is a good one & its one thats in every organisation on the planet?

Seems to me to be a sell to make way for buying scenario, i.e clear a wage to allow another player to take up a position in the squad.

Degag

I think what he is saying is that there is a certain amount to spend but anything other than that would have to be financed by selling players.

That pretty much contradicts Keane who said he could only buy players if he first sold them.

Neil3030

Columbia wrote: »

People here don't really seem to appreciate the current problems at Aston Villa. Their net debt this year increased by about 45%, from £72.3m to £97.7m (if we include post-balance sheet loan notes from Randy Lerner to the club). Not massive in it's own right, but a huge mountain of debt for a club whose wages to turnover ratio (90%) is (I think) the highest in the league, and probably one of the highest in football. Essentially, 90% of their income (prizemoney, sponsorship, match tickets, everything) is eaten up by player's wages.

The only thing in Villa's favour is that the brunt of the debt is owed to Lerner's own companies, rather than banks. However people here seem to be suggesting that Villa are minted and that Lerner is bankrolling the club, which just simply isn't the case.

Make no mistake, Villa have taken a gamble (putting up huge wages to attract players to propel them to the CL) and it hasn't worked. Villa's costs, while not quite out of control just yet, are a very slender margin away from it. To stay in control of the situation, Villa will need to make a net profit on transfers this summer. If they don't do this, and their income takes a hit for whatever reason, they will be in huge trouble.

Though you're absolutely spot on about needing to cut back on the wagebill, I wouldn't worry about the debt levels. That's just money Lerner's invested in the club and funding a business with debt is just a far safer and more tax-efficient way than funding it with share capital.

Lerner bought the club for under 70m, then the additional 90m makes 160m total input on his part so far. The club is easily worth more than that if he were to sell up in the morning.

Mr Alan wrote: »

Neil, are you totally ignoring the next sentence where he says to do EXACTLY what you did, would be misleading? before stating that he thinks the sell to buy model is a good one & its one thats in every organisation on the planet?

No, I'm not ignoring that sentence at all, because the very next sentence out of Lerner's mouth in that press-conference was:

"On the other hand, if opportunities arise in which the net number of sell-to-buy doesn't equal what is required to take advantage of an opportunity, then you may spend the money."

The key concern for Villa's outgoing transactions this year is to reduce the wagebill. MON doesn't need to sell to buy players, but he does need to trim a lot of expensive fat at the club.

Columbia

JPA wrote: »

But you could say the same about Chelsea and no one bats an eye lid about them.

Roman Abramovic recently wrote off most of the money owed to him by Chelsea, and their wage/turnover ratio is 70%. Still way too high by normal business standards, but nowhere near as crippling as Aston Villa. Also, Chelsea are winning trophies, so their revenue streams are increasing. They're not in difficulty right now, at least judging by the figures we know.

JPA

Columbia wrote: »

Roman Abramovic recently wrote off most of the money owed to him by Chelsea, and their wage/turnover ratio is 70%. Still way too high by normal business standards, but nowhere near as crippling as Aston Villa. Also, Chelsea are winning trophies, so their revenue streams are increasing. They're not in difficulty right now, at least judging by the figures we know.

Ya but Villa are in absoultely no trouble with regard to debt. There is no need to sell to raise cash or anything like that.

Columbia

Neil3030 wrote: »

Though you're absolutely spot on about needing to cut back on the wagebill, I wouldn't worry about the debt levels. That's just money Lerner's invested in the club and funding a business with debt is just a far safer and more tax-efficient way than funding it with share capital.

Lerner bought the club for under 70m, then the additional 90m makes 160m total input on his part so far. The club is easily worth more than that if he were to sell up in the morning.

Indeed, as I said the current level of debt shouldn't be a problem for a club of Aston Villa's stature, but a year-on-year increase of the level they're currently at is going to be unsustainable soon. Cutting the wage bill is primary for them

Bodhisopha

flahavaj wrote: »

Milner's a sensible enough lad from what I know of him, I reckon he'll hang on for a bigger club or realise City is barely a sideway step from Villa at the moment and stay where he is.

Enjoying the Villa defensiveness in the thread though.

I couldn't agree less. City are a team on the up and a very exciting project for any young player to get involved in.

What bigger club is he realistically going to play for?

Arsenal? Never.
Liverpool? Struggling.
United? The balance of power is shifting in Manchester.
Chelsea? Possibly, but i don't see it happening.

If i was him i'd jump at the chance to play for City.

flahavaj

Bodhisopha wrote: »

I couldn't agree less. City are a team on the up and a very exciting project for any young player to get involved in.

What bigger club is he realistically going to play for?

Arsenal? Never.
Liverpool? Struggling.
United? The balance of power is shifting in Manchester.
Chelsea? Possibly, but i don't see it happening.

If i was him i'd jump at the chance to play for City.

City are the last place I'd go if I was a young player.

Ask Steven Ireland how being at City has helped his development this season.

JPA

Bodhisopha wrote: »

I couldn't agree less. City are a team on the up and a very exciting project for any young player to get involved in.

What bigger club is he realistically going to play for?

Arsenal? Never.
Liverpool? Struggling.
United? The balance of power is shifting in Manchester.
Chelsea? Possibly, but i don't see it happening.

If i was him i'd jump at the chance to play for City.

He's already playing for a bigger club.

everdead.ie

I would of imagined united or Chelsea would be his favoured choice if he was to leave villa as they both have champions league football and could afford him although I don't think either would pay 20+ million for him.

mayordenis

Bodhisopha wrote: »

Arsenal? Never.

Do go on...

Bodhisopha

JPA wrote: »

He's already playing for a bigger club.

Historically, yes. But so what? City will be challenging for the league within the next 5 years at most. Will Villa?

As for Stephen Ireland, if he's not considered good enough, thats too bad. Not everyone can make it, but if you have ambition and believe in yourself then shoot for the stars.

Or you could stay at Villa...

flahavaj

Bodhisopha wrote: »

Historically, yes. But so what? City will be challenging for the league within the next 5 years at most. Will Villa?

As for Stephen Ireland, if he's not considered good enough, thats too bad. Not everyone can make it, but if you have ambition and believe in yourself then shoot for the stars.

Or you could stay at Villa...

Maybe in five years time he should consider moving to City then........

Bodhisopha

mayordenis wrote: »

Do go on...

Wenger would never sign Milner. Simples.

Neil3030

Bodhisopha wrote: »

Historically, yes. But so what? City will be challenging for the league within the next 5 years at most. Will Villa?

Why don't you just look back into your crystal ball and tell us! :pac:

everdead.ie

mayordenis wrote: »

Do go on...

I imagine that's due to arsne's spending policy although I'm open to correction.

Bodhisopha

flahavaj wrote: »

Maybe in five years time he should consider moving to Villa then........

If he hasn't made it at City then yeah, it's worth considering.

flahavaj

Bodhisopha wrote: »

If he hasn't made it at City then yeah, it's worth considering.

Haha ninja.........

mayordenis

Bodhisopha wrote: »

Wenger would never sign Milner. Simples.

Ah thats completely fair, I thought you were saying never as in Arsenal would never be a bigger side

Neil3030

This thread is actually gas. A slow night at a tabloid sports news station prompts a desperate story from nothing that has sparked trench warfare on a bulletin board, no different I'd suspect to countless other boards across the net.

We football fans really need to get lives... :pac:

EI111

flahavaj wrote: »

City are the last place I'd go if I was a young player.

Ask Steven Ireland how being at City has helped his development this season.

Adam Johnson flipside

Le King

EI111 wrote: »

Adam Johnson flipside

Minus Lescott, Bojinov, Richards etc.

Helix

ireland and 20m will do kplztksbai

Bodhisopha

mayordenis wrote: »

Ah thats completely fair, I thought you were saying never as in Arsenal would never be a bigger side

No, i can't project that far. I can only tell you what is likely to happen in the next 5-10 years.

super_furry

£20million for an average plodder like James Milner? The world's gone nuts.

JPA

Helix wrote: »

ireland and 20m will do kplztksbai

That seems modest, £30 mill, Ireland, maybe Tevez.