Stephen Ireland to be offered to Aston Villa in part-exchange as Manchester City step up £30m bid to lure James Milner

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

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Manchester City are ready to offer Stephen Ireland in part-exchange to help smooth through the £30 million transfer of James Milner from Aston Villa.

Ireland is valued at £10m by City and will be offered on top of £20m cash to tempt Villa to sell their key midfielder.

MORE...

• Manchester City confident they will sign James Milner as they return with £25m bid
• United v City: How James Milner became key transfer target ahead of Stephen Ireland in Manchester United's transfer tug of war

Villa manager Martin O’Neill is an admirer of Ireland and, although he is desperate not to lose Milner, has told the club he will consider a deal to include City’s 2008-09 Player of the Year.

Ireland has struggled for first-team action at Eastlands, starting just eight Premier League games under Mancini. In the final three months of the season, he made just one start and a single substitute appearance.

A part-exchange involving the Republic of Ireland international would appear to represent good value for Villa. Ireland was rated at more than £15m last season when he gained a reputation as one of the most dynamic central midfielders in the Premier League.

The deal would also save O’Neill the necessity of finding a replacement for Milner at a time when owner Randy Lerner is looking to reduce Villa’s transfer budget.

Ireland's call | Stephen has been marginalised under Roberto Mancini

Villa firmly rejected City’s initial offer of £20m for Milner last Wednesday and said they are keen to tie the 24-year-old to an improved contract, which currently has two years to run and is worth a reported £45,000-a-week.

City and Mancini have not been put off and will step up their bid this week to make Milner the club’s first signing of what is expected to be another major summer spending spree.

Micah Richards, who is valued at £6m, has also been mentioned at Eastlands as a possible makeweight in the Milner deal. Furthermore, fellow defender Nedum Onuoha could also be an option but has not yet been discussed.

Tottenham are expected to make a move for Richards while Sunderland have emerged as possible suitors for Onuoha’s signature.

Chelsea and Manchester United are continuing to monitor developments in the tug of war for Milner’s services.

England manager Fabio Capello has made it clear that he will not allow any of his players to negotiate transfers during the World Cup and Milner is likely to want his future resolved before the start of the tournament on June 11.

Milner was named the PFA Young Player of the Year after an outstanding season that has thrust him firmly into contention for a starting position in England’s opening World Cup game.

Although a winger by trade, who is also capable of operating in either full-back position, he has been shifted inside to a central midfield position this season by O’Neill, a move that has paid great dividends.

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