JAMES MILNER has snubbed Manchester United and told friends he wants to join their arch rivals Liverpool.
United, Chelsea and Manchester City are all desperate to land Aston Villa's 24-year-old England midfielder.
And Villa boss Martin O'Neill has demanded the Midlanders slap a massive £40million price tag on the player.
But with O'Neill also being linked to the manager's job at Anfield if Kop boss Rafa Benitez goes this summer, Milner has not ruled out a dream Liverpool move.
Sources close to Milner insisted: "Being born in Leeds, there is no way James wants to play for Manchester United.
"His preferred Premier League club is Liverpool."
But if O'Neill stays at Villa Park that option will be KO'd - leaving City and Chelsea to slug it out.
O'Neill is realistic enough to know Villa cannot compete with the money at City's disposal even if owner Randy Lerner doubles Milner's current £45,000-a-week wages.
But he doesn't want Villa to roll over when City up their offer to nearer £25m and will make City's Arab billionaires to pay through the nose in any transfer negotiations.
A source close to O'Neill said: "Martin doesn't want to start the summer feeling like he's pushing a rock up a mountain because the club have let Milner go too cheaply.
"This is a player Villa have turned into an England international, who has been one of the most consistent players in the Premier League and who has discovered a whole new role in central midfield thanks to Martin.
"To let somebody of that quality and stature go without a fight and at a price City believe is a bargan would be counter-productive.
"Nobody at Villa wants to see Milner leave and the club will speak with him before he goes to the World Cup about a contract extension.
"But if his heart is set on leaving, then Villa must get the absolute top price for him."
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