Lerner hits out at City

Milner, who scored in Villa’s 3-0 opening day win against West Ham, has been on City’s radar for most of the summer.

He told The Mail on Sunday: “Big, bad Manchester City came along and asked for Milner and we said, ‘no, he is not for sale’. And under the rules you have to respect that.

“Manchester City respected that for two whole days. And then they violated the rules and came in for him again.”