Manchester City are ready to ramp up their bid for Aston Villa midfielder James Milner after 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, says The Sun.

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.