Things change quickly in the world of football. One minute a player is getting rave reviews for helping his team win a Carling Cup match, the next thing he has handed in a transfer request and then he’s gone – just like that. Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan must be pretty annoyed that he’s lost one of his best players to a Premier League rival.
ESPN reports that Aston Villa have beaten Everton (the Toffees must be sick of finishing second in these transfer races) to the signature of James Milner, an unsung player who was waiting for the improved Newcastle contract that never materialised. It’s cost them a pretty penny to sign the winger, although their midfield looks pretty hot as a result, especially after they managed to keep Gareth Barry.
Aston Villa have won the race to sign Newcastle United winger James Milner after agreeing a four-year deal with England Under 21.
Milner underwent a medical at Bodymoor Heath, and has made the move from the north-east for a fee believed to be in the region of £10million.
Everton made a late attempt to hijack the deal by matching Villa’s offer, after missing out on Albert Riera and Shaun Wright-Phillips, but Villa Park was the 22-year-old’s preferred destination.
Milner has started the season well at Newcastle and, although he’s certain to get booed when he next lines up against the Magpies, it appears that the Tyneside club shot themselves in the foot by not offering him the salary he was after. Perhaps the board didn’t rate him enough, although Kevin Keegan was touting him for England earlier this week! Newcastle fans, are you gutted to lose a player of this quality or is it good business for the club?