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Melbourne Victory are considering a new offer for midfielder Mark Milligan before the January transfer window closes. UAE side Baniyas are said to be the suitors with a bid in the area of AU $1m, though the club did not specify in its press release last night. Were Milligan to move, it would leave open the question of who should captain the Victory, especially with Adrian Leijer, the previous captain, having played a less influential role so far this season.
Tom Rogic's arrival, via loan from Celtic, is only initially to last through May and Mitch Nichols has now moved to Cerezo Osaka, as has been rumored over the past weeks. The identity of the Victory is now quite different from the start of the season when Nichols was newly signed, Milligan confirmed as remaining at the club and Ange Postecoglou the manager.
Milligan turned down a previous offer from Baniyas in June 2013, citing family stability and a keen interest in continuing to work with Postecoglou for a second season in Melbourne. Milligan was awarded the captaincy and the Victory held off bids from Crystal Palace to keep the Socceroos midfielder in the fold. But now with Postecoglou gone and the team changing around him, big money from the UAE may seem more desirable than it did seven months ago.
