MIDDLESBROUGH manager Gareth Southgate is hoping to persuade Newcastle United to sell James Milner after identifying the England Under-21 international as the ideal man to strengthen his midfield next season.
Milner (pictured below) has been a long-term target of Southgate, who also tried to sign the youngster when he was on the verge of moving to Aston Villa two years ago, and Boro are set to enquire about his availability again this summer.
United manager Kevin Keegan has already argued he does not want to let any of his squad leave St James’s Park, but that does not mean a sizeable bid would not tempt him to cash in.
Milner has been an important figure in the Newcastle side for the last two seasons, but he is not guaranteed a first-team place under Keegan.
Despite recovering from a nasty foot injury with three weeks of the season remaining, the 22-year-old did not even make the substitutes’ bench against either Chelsea or Everton and has not played a senior game since the 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool at the start of March.
The former Leeds United prospect did not figure in Newcastle’s spring-time recovery under Keegan, when he was replaced by Geremi on the right side of a three-man midfield – and that has alerted Boro to the possibility that Keegan could be willing to let him go. Boro will not be the only Premier League club interested in Milner if Newcastle do decide to sell and Villa manager Martin O’Neill would also like to take him back to Villa Park, where he spent a successful loan spell in the 2005-06 season, if he becomes available.
Southgate, who has firmly denied an interest in United striker Alan Smith, despite reports earlier this week that he was about to bid for the former England international, believes midfield was Boro’s problem area last season. With Gary O’Neil looking for a move back down south as his family have failed to settle on Teesside and Fabio Rochemback already returning to Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon, Boro desperately need to add to that department when the transfer window opens. Milner was one of Sir Bobby Robson’s last signings as Magpies manager in 2004 and has become a crowd favourite at St James’s Park because of his excellent attitude and commitment.
However, he is unlikely to want to be a squad player at Newcastle and could be tempted by a switch to the Riverside if Keegan does not see him as a key figure next season. United paid an initial £3.5m to Leeds to bring him to Tyneside, but they would want at least £5m to part with him. Meanwhile, Newcastle defender David Rozehnal is seeking assurances from Lazio coach Domenico Caso before he commits to a permanent move to Rome.
Rozehnal has been on loan at the Stadio Olimpico since January and does not want to return to Tyneside after conceding he is unable to cope with the physical side of the game in the Premier League.
But the Czech international, who will play for his country in the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland this summer, has not been a regular starter in Italy and has spent much of his time on the bench.
As a result, it is far from certain Caso will want to sign him, while Rozehnal is adamant he will not move there permanently if he is not promised a more prominent role.
He said: “In the last five games I have played from the start and it has given me the self-confidence I had when I was playing for Paris-Saint Germain. Everything is looking to be returning to normal, I hope it will continue this way.
“I have not played as much as I have wanted to. Now it is up to Lazio to make a decision.
“If I was playing then I would definitely come. It is important for me to play regularly. I would not like to struggle here in a situation where I play one game and sit out the next three.”
Rozenhnal started well at Newcastle following a £2.9m move from Paris, but he struggled when asked to play against a physical centre-forward and asked to leave in January because he was no longer playing in the centre of defence.
That request was granted by Keegan, who hopes to receive around £2m for the defender to boost his own transfer kitty and, in an ideal situation, Rozehnal will not have to return to Tyneside for the start of pre-season training in July.
Newcastle are looking to sign a left-back and at least one centre-back before the start of next season. Stephen Carr’s departure may also prompt Keegan to look for a right-back to provide cover for the impressive Habib Beye.
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