Ange Postecoglou keeps hold of Socceroos midfielder Mark Milligan. Source: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images
MARK Milligan's hopes of joining Crystal Palace appear to have been dashed with the Premier League club believed to have informed Melbourne Victory that their deal was off the table.
As late as Monday afternoon negotiations were continuing over a transfer fee and it’s understood coach Ange Postecoglou was resigned to losing the player, who had informed the club of his desire to pursue his boyhood dream of playing in the Premier League.
It’s believed Palace’s offer was in excess of the A-League transfer record set by Rostyn Griffiths, who was sold from Central Coast to Chinese club Guangzhou R&F for $1.3m in 2012.
The Herald Sun understands that Palace and Victory had agreed to the fee, but negotiations broke down over whether the sum would be paid up front or in installments.
It’s now almost certain that Palace won’t return with a renewed bid before Tuesday morning’s 8am (Melbourne time) deadline.
The midfielder, who is in camp with the Socceroos ahead of Saturday’s friendly away to Brazil, is understood to have been gutted when informed of the latest developments.
Milligan, 28, boarded a plane for Brazil on Saturday believing he would be a Crystal Palace player by the end of today’s (Tuesday) transfer deadline.
The London-based club last Thursday launched a third bid in an attempt to add depth to their squad on their return to the top tier.
Milligan, who signed a permanent deal with Victory from J2 side JEF United on the eve of the 2012-13 A-League season, rejected a lucrative move to UAE club Baniyas in June but he was determined to have a crack at the Premier League.
"A sizeable offer has been made and the player hopes to fulfil a lifelong dream," Milligan’s agent Buddy Farah told the Herald Sun last Friday.
Despite having featured in 13 of Australia’s last 27 matches in the last two years, both Palace and Milligan were confident that he’d be able to secure one as injuries played their part.
Capped 24 times by the Socceroos, Milligan was tentative after Palace’s initial interest a month ago, but a recent conversation with manager Ian Holloway has convinced him that he would feature in their plans ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Holloway has watched DVD’s of Victory games from last season and saw the aggressive defender-turned-midfielder playing a role in Palace’s midfield, possibly alongside Socceroos teammate Mile Jedinak.
It’s also believed that Socceroos coach Holger Osieck was in favour of Milligan testing himself in one of the best league’s in the world.
With Milligan now destined to remain, it’s one less transfer headache for Postecoglou, who is still looking to fill the marquee position after Marcos Flores’ departure.
Postecoglou is still searching for a central defender, with former Tottenham and Arsenal star William Gallas still a possibility, while Milligan’s midfield companion from last season Billy Celeski also has to be replaced, after he joined UAE club Al Shaab a month ago for a fee of $500,000.
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