Martinez eyes Milner swoop

All depends on how much we are paid to take him off their hands.

Or he could be a makeweight in a deal to take Rodwell...

Milner played his last season at Villa in the middle, replacing Barry.

I know that he is 100% looking to leave Man City in the summer. I also know that he wants to play centre mid wherever he next goes.

Can't see it happening but I thought he was one of City's best players on Saturday. Would form a good central axis with McCarthy.

I've said a few times Milner would be a great addition to our team. Great engine, good attitude and a bit of ability. I thought the step over and drag back to create Dzeko's goal on Saturday was sublime.

However assuming he is on a £100k pw I'm suspecting a loan deal is the most likely way we will see him next season.

City won't sell him as they need him for the home-grown quota. They are screwed at the end of the season with Barry, Lescott, Richard Wright (lol) definitely going plus the rumoured exits of Richards & Boyata (qualifies through time at club).

Unfortunately I can see a very large offer coming in from them for Barkley and maybe Stones so they can rectify that situation.

I’d grab Milner with both hands, and feet, but why would city let him go? He’s a brilliant (well ok, he’s a very good) player and he’s English. I don’t understand why would they let him leave and why any other young, English player want to go to city? To sit on the bench?

Is there a new Quota rule?
I thought EU labour law meant the "home grown quota" meant that that EU players count as home grown.

They might have to sell him if he wants to leave - a transfer request would change everything. I'd love this lad at Everton. A proper player, gives 100%, you can tell he's a good pro & a good lad. Plus, his delivery and work rate are excellent. With Martinez encouraging him, he could get back among the England team. Probably just paper talk, though...

I'm honestly just going to trust Martinez for this one. Honestly I haven't seen much of him but the performances hes had in England shirts has put me right off him.

I'd take him all day long. Not the most gifted, but would give the team great energy.

However, I can't see it be a goer, for the reason Kristian outlined.

He would be an awesome signing; he would be perfect for what we need in the middle, but wages, and English quota as has been outlined makes this a no-go for me. Shame because he’s wasted at Man City.

Martinez keeps throwing up names and more names everyday perhaps to confuse our opponents on who are real targets are. I agree Milner is a keeper if we can get him. Even if it’s on loan so he stays on their books for the homegrown quota.

Would be a fantastic addition to the squad....

A very talented player with great work ethic and strength. Can use both feet although not much of a scorer but if he was he would be in City’s midfield every week. At the right price why not?

He's average, very average, but gets top tier talent wages.
Avoid.

He would be a superb loan I think but likely cost 10m plus to buy and we need to spend our sponds on a striker. Most likely city will angle for some sort of Milner plus cash for Barkley deal which we should steer well clear of.

In Roberto we trust for this kind of decision. Because, should it ever happens, I think it would be a straight replacement for Barry. And I could see Milner playing that role. But the ifs way outnumber the maybes.

I'd take him all day long you can't have enough of his type in the team a proper proven Premier League player like Barry.

I'd take him no problem, I've every faith in RM making him a better player if he does come here.

I think we have to keep an eye our wage bill though.

Underrated player. Played in the right position, he can be top class great engine.

Milner is a very good player, scored a fair few goals when he was a main player at Aston Villa, assisted lots too.

He’s got a great engine, he’s versatile, and his attitude for the game is undeniable.

I’m not sure on the wages side of it or whether it’s an approach to buy or loan but I’d grab him with both hands on either deal and work from there.

I do not know what fee Man City want for him but; the wages he may be on, we will not be able to pay... so, like Barry last season, if possible a loan deal may be a better proposition.

A good player who will be an asset for Europa cup games especially away games.

McCarthy and Milner in the centre...yes please!

I'm a Milner fan and never understand the bad press he seems to get sometimes... I have a feeling he might leave City end of the season as I get the feeling he is underappreciated.. or not... waht do I know..

But I think he would fit excellently into Everton. Good attitude and team player.

He would be a fantastic addition. If he wants to leave for football reasons then he may accept a drop in wages. There are not many teams who could offer him 100k a week. Those that could would probably not be interested.

Solid player, could be formidable with McCarthy for next 3-4 seasons. No more than £10M though.

Chris, absolutely right. Any of the players at City or Chelsea that are looking to leave to get games have to be honest with themselves about wages.

For clubs like Everton who can sign these players, it comes down to how many players at the club we can afford to have on 60k or 70k a week. At the moment you would presume Baines is close to that kind of money. Pienaar maybe. Hibbert and Osman may be as well. So possibly four players out of a squad of twenty five.

Has a great engine but tbh not much else imo. Hope this doesn't happen.

It's the mirror so likely bollocks.

Has a great engine but tbh not much else imo. Hope this doesn't happen.

It's the mirror so likely bollocks.

As long as it’s not to play out wide. I can’t help feeling this deal could take funds away from higher priority positions if it happens.

Remember what most posters thought about the Barry signing/loan deal.

Most thought Roberto had fucked up big time...

Barkley ain't the finished article but, with goals like those against Newcastle Utd and Man City, he would already have a high price tag. He is also an England player and should be off to Brazil in a few weeks.

What would Man City or Chelsea pay for this lad? Would Man Utd come in with a bid and player exchange? For me, selling Stones or Barkley would be a sad outcome. These boys are the future of the club and its future success. But then the grass is always greener elsewhere.

Can't we have both of them?!

There are so many great fringe players at City and Chelsea who I would love to see at Everton but as already mentioned, most of these guys are on crazy contracts that a normal clubs like us cannot match. So the decision ultimately lies with the player, a bigger contract with not much game time or play most weeks for less money - what would you do???

There will be no chance of City letting him leave after the UEFA fine and reduced squad size for the Champions League next season as 13 of their squad of 21 may well have to be 'home grown' . That also rules Rodwell out of a move too.

Very under-rated players, infact excellent player.

More talented than people credit him for, much like Gareth Barry in the way that he has to play for your club to see the real benefits of having him.

Could he be the replacement for Pienaar and Osman eventually?
At 28 he had quite a few good year's left and should really be at his peak about now.

Great signing if we could somehow pull it off.

He would be a very good signing I reckon. Am I right in thinking that he didn't start as many matches for Man City this season as in previous seasons? Also, does anyone knows what happened to that lad that they signed from Swansea, Scot Sinclair? I think that there have been more sightings of Lord Lucan.

I must admit that I am not too enthused by this one, a good player but no more than that to me. Then again, I thought something similar when we were first linked with Barry, so what do I know? I trust Martinez knows what he is doing if this story has any substance.

I agree Jim #466 on Barry, it isn't until he plays for your team that you really see what his strengths are, very much an unsung hero, a bit like McCarthy to a lesser extent.

To be honest I think that now the season is nearly finished journalists start putting out possible deals that may happen in the summer. I would rather wait till we put in a bid for a player before speculating as to whether he would be a good purchase or not.

I would rather speculate as to what is likely to happen to Traore,Kone and Gibson we were told that they would play some part in the final games of the season, that now seems unlikely. Should Barry leave I wonder if RM sees Gibson filling that role as he has played there mostly or does he have doubts about Gibsons ability to play many games due to his injury record. Then will he keep Traore, and if he fails to land Lukaku does he see Kone or Traore as our main striker for next season or will he buy someone for that position.

He's a good player, and, in my opinion, is very underrated. He never fails to put in a shift, and is actually reasonably skilful (with good pace, strength and even good passing ability also). I think that a transition into centre midfield would be perfect to his game, especially if he could play next to McCarthy (with McCarthy's great defensive ability and Milner's to go forward).

The only problem would be the cost. Yes, due to the fact of fact of that there is only one year left on his contract and the fact of that City don't exactly need money, means we would be able to get him for a slightly cheaper price, but surely his wages would be way too high?

On the whole though, he is pretty good and would fit in VERY well.... for the right price!