Martin O'Neill will QUIT Aston Villa if Ashley Young is sold this summer.
The Sunday Mirror says Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has put Young at the top of his shopping list but fears Villa’s valuation of the player is likely to put paid to any interest.
Tottenham are also reported to be tracking the 25-year-old England international.
O’Neill is ready to allow James Milner to join Manchester City if they meet Villa’s near £30 million valuation, but the Irishman would give serious thought to quitting Villa if Young is sold against his wishes.
A source close to O’Neill said: “Martin intends to build on Villa’s from last season and the sale of key players at the club would severely undermine his ambitions.
“Young is priceless to Martin and if there was any attempt to enter into negotiations over his sale behind his back he would feel completely undermined and put in an untenable situation at the club.
“The Milner situation is completely different. He has two years left on his contract and intimated that he wants to leave and has no intention of signing a new deal at Villa Park.
“It makes financial sense for Villa to consider selling him.”
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is chasing Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.
The Mirror says Redknapp tried last summer to get Young, 25, but Villa boss Martin O’Neill begged the star to stay and increased his pay to £65,000 a week.
But now Redknapp has even more cash after Spurs qualified for the Champions League.
A return to the capital to play against Europe’s elite would appeal to Young, who was omitted from England’s World Cup squad.
Redknapp is determined to get the former Watford trainee this time after ambitiously declaring his title aspirations.
It means another headache for O’Neill who wants to hang on to Young with Milner poised to quit.
I think if Millner leaves, I think its sooner or later Young will leave as well.