Crystal Palace bid for Mark Milligan rejected

Australian outfit Melbourne Victory have confirmed that they have rejected a bid from Premier League newcomers Crystal Palace for their talented midfielder Mark Milligan.

The 28-year-old who is currently valued at £1million by his club, was also linked with a move to Championship side Queens Park Rangers earlier this summer.

Melbourne Victory have claimed that the Eagles' bid fell short of their valuation of Milligan, who can either play in midfield or defence.

Manager Ange Postecoglou told The Age: "We haven't had a bid of $1.5million from Palace. We have had a bid from Palace, but it's fallen short of our valuation.

"'I understand that Millsy is a highly sought after player. He enjoys this club, and he understands he is in this position because of this football club.

"So there is a whole range of things (to consider). We have a responsibility to our own supporters, we are going to have 28,000 members this year and 50,000 at our first game.

"I take that responsibility very seriously. He is the best player at our club, I think he is the best player in the country at the moment, so I don't think we need to be out there trying to flog him and we are certainly not doing it for the money.

"We are looking for him to lead in that area (midfield). As I stand here right now I am (confident in him being a key part of the team). He's contracted for another two years and he's a very important part of what we are building here.

"We value him very very highly, and if somebody was to look to prise him away from us we would expect them to meet our valuation of him."