Sir Alex looks to James Milner as answer to United's problem
-
Sir Alex Ferguson looks to James Milner as answer to United's problems
Sir Alex Ferguson is weighing up a summer move for James Milner, the Aston Villa midfield player. Villa want to tie Milner, 24, to a new long-term contract but Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, is monitoring the situation and may look to take advantage.
Martin O’Neill considers Milner integral to his hopes of taking the club into the Champions League and would not want to sell. The player has two years left on his present deal but Villa want to extend the contract and are prepared to increase his wages from about £45,000 a week to £65,000, giving him parity with Ashley Young, his team-mate.
Ferguson is considering his midfield options amid concerns about the long-term fitness of Owen Hargreaves and the form of Michael Carrick and Anderson, while Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are coming to the end of their United careers. Milner’s versatility appeals to the Scot and he fits into the the policy of signing young players with scope for improvement.
Although he was originally perceived as a wide player, Milner has impressed in central midfield for Villa and can also play in either full-back position. His form is expected to earn him a place in Fabio Capello’s England squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa this summer.
United have doubts over the fitness of Giggs and Rio Ferdinand, who have hamstring and groin injuries respectively for tomorrow’s Manchester derby. However, Wayne Rooney, the striker, is expected to be fit to start despite missing the goalless draw away to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday with a burst blood vessel just below the right ankle joint.
After the problems off the pitch that blighted the two-legged Carling Cup semi-final between the clubs in January, police will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to hooliganism and drunkenness in an attempt to avert possible flashpoints between rivals fans.
Supporters arriving drunk at the City of Manchester Stadium will be refused entry and anyone caught with alcohol within a 2½-mile exclusion zone between the city centre and ground will have it confiscated as officers vowed to deal “quickly and robustly” with troublemakers.
“We will have the appropriate number of officers and resources within the ground and the surrounding areas to both deal with any incidents and offer reassurance to the public,” Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, who is in charge of the policing operation for the match, said.