DAVID O'LEARY last night claimed Aston Villa have been given the go ahead to complete the permanent signing of James Milner from Newcastle United, writes Paul Fraser.
Milner has been Villa's star performer during his season-long loan spell at Villa Park and was the star man for the Villans in the win over Sunderland yesterday.
The England Under-21 international has refused to rule out a move back to St James' Park but, similarly, he has also suggested he would be more than willing to permanently uproot to the Midlands club.
And O'Leary, who has been one of the names mentioned as the next manager at Sunderland, has indicated he wants the rising talent to complete his switch to Villa.
He said: "I hope the Milner deal is done because I regard him as a Villa player. I am hopeful because the boy wants to be here and I have been told by my club that Newcastle want to do a deal. He should be here because I regard him as a Villa player."
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