James Milner will begin talks to extend his Aston Villa contract until 2015 when this month's transfer window closes.
The England winger joined the Midlands club from Newcastle for £12million in September 2008 and signed a four-year deal worth £40,000-a-week.
But the versatile star has since become one of Martin O'Neill's most important players and will now demand around £75,000-a-week, making him the club's top earner.
The Villa boss likes a loose wage cap to protect morale in the dressing room and the talks are likely to involve a lot of negotiation from both sides.
Milner, 24, made his England debut against Holland last August and his fine form in Villa's attempt to break into the top four has attracted interest from Liverpool.
His impressive performances in victories at Anfield and Old Trafford this season have also brought him to the attention of other members of the top four.
He has two and a half years left on his current deal but O'Neill, who believes the Leeds academy graduate could eventually become a central midfielder, wants to tie him down to a longer deal to ward off interest from other clubs.
That would see the player add a further three years to his present agreement. It will also ensure that Villa receive a big fee if he does leave.
Milner was among the lowest paid players at Newcastle and his representatives are believed to have thought they could have got a better deal for him when he arrived at Villa at a time when big contracts were being handed out to the likes of Ashley Young and John Carew.
Young is the club's highest earner on £65,000-a-week but Milner is a near certainty to make Fabio Capello's World Cup squad for South Africa next summer, and that will increase his bargaining position. Stilyan Petrov recently signed a contract worth £50,000-a-week, while Richard Dunne and Norwegian striker Carew are thought to be on slightly higher deals.
It is likely that the talks will result in Milner signing a contract worth around £70,000-a-week before heading off to South Africa with England.
Since winning his first England cap and setting up a goal in the Holland friendly, the former England Under-21 international has played in the last three World Cup qualifiers as well as in November's friendly defeat to Brazil in Dubai.
Milner has 46 Under-21 caps and has played for his country at that level more times than any other player. His last appearance was in the European Championship final defeat against Germany in Sweden last summer, which England lost 4-0.
His ability to cover a variety of positions has seen his importance to Villa increase. This season he has played on both wings, in central midfield and even at right-back.
He recently stated that he is enjoying the most settled period of his career having played under 13 different managers and caretakers by the age of 23.
Milner became the youngest player to score in the Premier League when he found the net for Leeds in 2002 when he was just 16.
The England winger joined the Midlands club from Newcastle for £12million in September 2008 and signed a four-year deal worth £40,000-a-week.
But the versatile star has since become one of Martin O'Neill's most important players and will now demand around £75,000-a-week, making him the club's top earner.
The Villa boss likes a loose wage cap to protect morale in the dressing room and the talks are likely to involve a lot of negotiation from both sides.
Milner, 24, made his England debut against Holland last August and his fine form in Villa's attempt to break into the top four has attracted interest from Liverpool.
His impressive performances in victories at Anfield and Old Trafford this season have also brought him to the attention of other members of the top four.
He has two and a half years left on his current deal but O'Neill, who believes the Leeds academy graduate could eventually become a central midfielder, wants to tie him down to a longer deal to ward off interest from other clubs.
That would see the player add a further three years to his present agreement. It will also ensure that Villa receive a big fee if he does leave.
Milner was among the lowest paid players at Newcastle and his representatives are believed to have thought they could have got a better deal for him when he arrived at Villa at a time when big contracts were being handed out to the likes of Ashley Young and John Carew.
Young is the club's highest earner on £65,000-a-week but Milner is a near certainty to make Fabio Capello's World Cup squad for South Africa next summer, and that will increase his bargaining position. Stilyan Petrov recently signed a contract worth £50,000-a-week, while Richard Dunne and Norwegian striker Carew are thought to be on slightly higher deals.
It is likely that the talks will result in Milner signing a contract worth around £70,000-a-week before heading off to South Africa with England.
Since winning his first England cap and setting up a goal in the Holland friendly, the former England Under-21 international has played in the last three World Cup qualifiers as well as in November's friendly defeat to Brazil in Dubai.
Milner has 46 Under-21 caps and has played for his country at that level more times than any other player. His last appearance was in the European Championship final defeat against Germany in Sweden last summer, which England lost 4-0.
His ability to cover a variety of positions has seen his importance to Villa increase. This season he has played on both wings, in central midfield and even at right-back.
He recently stated that he is enjoying the most settled period of his career having played under 13 different managers and caretakers by the age of 23.
Milner became the youngest player to score in the Premier League when he found the net for Leeds in 2002 when he was just 16.
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