James Milner price set to cool Liverpool's interest

Jun 18 2008 Nick Smith

LIVERPOOL could end their pursuit of James Milner if Newcastle United hold out for more than £7million for the winger.

The 22-year-old has been tracked by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez as he seeks to strengthen his flanks, with a player-plus-cash offer involving Danny Guthrie his preferred option.

But suggestions that Kevin Keegan, who is due back from holiday in America, will look to push Milner’s valuation up to £9million look set to cool Benitez’s interest.

The other issue clouding the deal at St James’ Park is the changes that were confirmed in the boardroom yesterday, with chairman Chris Mort stepping down and Derek Llambias taking the new title of managing director.

Sources in the north east claim that owner Mike Ashley will take a more hands-on chairman-like role and is due to discuss plans for next season’s squad building this week.

With Newcastle yet to make any close season signings, their balancing act between letting one of their prize assets go against raising transfer funds is set to be high on the agenda.

But as is policy for a player unproven at European and international level, Benitez will not pay more than what he believes Milner is worth, which is £5m before Guthrie is factored in.

He is also willing to sit tight and wait for Aston Villa to agree to a fee for Gareth Barry as he ponders a fourth bid for the Aston Villa midfielder.

It won’t have escaped the attention of anyone at Anfield that Villa have started preparing for Barry’s departure by closing in on the £4.5million purchase of Steve Sidwell from Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Liverpool co- owner Tom Hicks has warned Chelsea even a world record transfer fee would not tempt him to cash in on star striker Fernando Torres.

Torres, 24, is reported to be a transfer target for new Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari after a 33-goal haul in his first season at Anfield.

But American Hicks is adamant that even if Roman Abramovich offered to exceed the £47m Real Madrid paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001, he would not contemplate doing business.

"There is no price at which we would consider selling Fernando Torres," Hicks said.

"The Chelsea rumours in the media are total rubbish."

Chief executive Rick Parry and Torres himself dismissed talk at the weekend about the forward leaving Anfield.

Liverpool have finalised the friendlies for their pre-season tour of Switzerland, taking on FC Lucerne on Wednesday, July 16 and Wisla Krakow the following Saturday.