Manchester City are considering making a new offer for England midfielder James Milner after having a £20million bid rejected by Aston Villa.
Twelve months ago City prised Gareth Barry away from Villa for £12m but the midlands club are anxious to hang on to Milner.
A Villa spokesman said: "This offer from City has been firmly rejected. We plan to sit down with James and his representative after the World Cup to agree a new long-term deal and this remains our position."
Milner is halfway through the four-year contract he signed when joining Villa for a club record from Newcastle in the summer of 2008.
The 24-year-old has just enjoyed a successful season in a central midfield role and was recently crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year. England coach Fabio Capello recently said Milner was "the future" of English football and he is a near certainty to be part of the 23-man squad for the World Cup finals.
