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Milner wants to quit St James’ Park

bloomberg

LONDON — Newcastle midfielder James Milner, who holds the appearance record for England’s Under-21 team, handed in a transfer request yesterday, the club said.

Elsewhere, Newcastle’s northeast England rivals Sunderland said they completed the signing of West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand on a four-year contract, Earlier, Arsenal said AC Milan signed their Swiss defender Philippe Senderos on a season’s loan. Neither team disclosed financial details.

Newcastle said they were “very disappointed’’ that Milner sees his future away from St James’ Park.

“He is a valued member of the squad and it is only a year ago that he signed an improved long-term contract here,’’ Newcastle said in a statement.

The club said they had yet to receive an offer that “matches our valuation’’ for Milner, who made his Premier League debut as a 16-year-old for Leeds United.

Now 22, he has started for Newcastle in both their Premier League games this season and scored the second goal in last night’s 3-2 League Cup victory over Coventry.

British media, including The Guardian, have linked Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa with a US$9-million ($19.75) offer for Milner.

He almost joined Villa in 2006 after spending a year on loan there. That deal fell apart as the clubs failed to agree on a transfer fee.

Interested parties have until the close of the transfer window on Sept 1 to conclude a deal for Milner, who has played in 37 England Under-21 matches.

Ferdinand becomes Sunderland coach Roy Keane’s ninth new signing, joining the likes of Djibril Cisse, Steed Malbranque and El-Hadji Diouf at the Stadium of Light.

“We needed to strengthen our defense and Anton is a great signing,’’ Keane was quoted as saying on the team’s Web site.

“He’s still young but he has over 160 games under his belt so he has experience, he’s learning his trade.’’

Keane said the 23-year-old may not be his last signing, adding that he had “one more player in mind.’’

Senderos, 23, joined Arsenal in 2003, making 115 appearances for the Gunners. He played every minute of Switzerland’s three matches at Euro 2008.