Milner can leave Villa if price is right – O'Neill

Former Leeds United player Milner told O'Neill before the World Cup, where he started three of England's four games, that he wanted to leave the club he joined for 12m from Newcastle two years ago.

City had a bid of around 20m rejected in May for the 24-year-old and Villa are believed to be looking for a figure in the region of 30m.

O'Neill, who revealed he has not spoken to Milner since before he left for the World Cup, said: "The state of affairs is really straightforward; James and his agent came to see us before the World Cup and intimated that they would like to go.

"Then Manchester City made the offer, which we told them about. There is a difference of valuation at this moment between the buying club and the selling club.

"That may well be resolved and if that is the case then absolutely fine.

"I think James' agent has told our chief executive that he wouldn't be signing a new contract. Obviously that puts a different slant on things, like everything else.

"If a fee is agreed, at the end of the day, the player can leave."

Villa are currently in Dublin for a training camp, which includes a pre-season friendly against Bohemians tomorrow, but Milner has been given an extended break because of his involvement in the World Cup.

Martin Jol announced yesterday he would be staying at Ajax rather than returning to the Barclays Premier League with Fulham.

The Dutchman was the Cottagers' first choice to replace Roy Hodgson, who left for Liverpool at the start of this month, and it appeared a deal was close after talks between Jol and Fulham chief executive Alistair Mackintosh.

But Ajax were not prepared to let the former Tottenham manager leave and he decided not to pursue the matter further.

Jol said: "I like Fulham, I like London, I like England, so I was a bit disappointed I had to say no because the board don't want me to go under any circumstances.

"He (Mackintosh) was offering me a good job at a good club with good honest players. I was willing to go there but I'm on a contract.

"We spoke about it for hours. It took a long time, which was probably not good for Ajax, and I had to tell them (Fulham) I had to stay. All these problems, going to court, I don't want that."

Liverpool, who missed out on Champions League qualification, will face Rabotnicki in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.

The Macedonian side completed a 1-0 aggregate victory over Mika last night.

The two sides played out a largely uneventful draw in Yerevan, meaning that Wandeir's goal from the first leg in Skopje was enough to take his side through.

Rabotnicki won that match despite playing for more than 45 minutes with only 10 men.