CITY will step up their pursuit of James Milner

MANCHESTER CITY will step up their pursuit of James Milner as soon as England exit the World Cup.

Club sources have indicated they will be going back in with an improved bid after seeing a £20million offer for the Aston Villa midfield ace, 24, knocked back earlier in the summer. And they remain confident around £25m should be enough to tempt Martin O'Neill to sell the former Newcastle star.
If he moves to Eastlands he is likely to be joined in the City engine room next season by Yaya Toure, as the club edge closer to a £25m deal for Barcelona's Ivorian ace.
Meanwhile, EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR has vowed to stay at City and battle for his place next season, despite the big-spenders eyeing Fernando Torres and Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko.
The Togo international said: "I'm looking forward to next season. It's going to be very difficult. But that's football."