City to launch £100m spending spree - but no Milner
Man City have lined up a stunning £100million triple swoop this week for Yaya Toure, David Silva and Edin Dzeko - but a proposed move for James Milner is in doubt.
Ivory Coast midfielder Toure, 27, is set to be the first to join Roberto Mancini's Eastlands shake-up this week for £28m from Barcelona.
But Valencia's attacking midfielder Silva, 24, is also expected to agree to join for around £30m despite being away on international duty with his native Spain.
And Man City are willing to splash a massive £36m on Wolfsburg striker Dzeko, 24, who scored 27 goals in 46 appearances last season for the German club.
The triple swoop will end up costing City, bankrolled by Abu Dhabi cash, an astonishing £100m.
The arrival of Bosnia & Herzegovina forward Dzeko will be a huge coup as he has been chased by Manchester United, Chelsea and a host of top European sides.
But City's hierarchy have put securing the signatures of midfielder Toure and Silva ahead of Milner.
And England ace Milner, 24, has told pals he has received no firm recent guarantees that Man City will return with another bid for him.
Aston Villa rejected an opening £18m bid plus £2m in add-ons from City earlier this summer for versatile midfielder Milner.
Villa are holding out for around £28m which looks hugely overpriced given England's dismal World Cup campaign after a last 16 thrashing to Germany.
Milner has told friends he has no intention of handing in a transfer request in a bid to get a move to Eastlands.
But it appears Villa will have to drop their asking price for the star if he is to push through a move to City.
Milner could still end up at Eastlands as City need to boost their quota of homegrown players for this season.
But City's hesitancy to pay over the odds for Milner could let in Chelsea and Man United who both fancy the midfielder and may offer him a better chance of starting.
Milner performed creditably against Slovenia and was one of the few England players to turn in a reasonable display against Germany before being subbed.
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