Football Spy: MOYES JOINS MILNER RACE; EXCLUSIVE In association with SETANTA SPORTS.

Byline: By SIMON BIRD

DAVID MOYES made a pounds 10million bid to land Newcastle winger James Milner last night, as an auction kicked off with Aston Villa.

The Everton boss is attempting to hijack Martin O'Neill's swoop for the England Under-21 star. Villa yesterday met Newcastle's pounds 10m asking price and are confident of getting their man.

Milner's future will be decided this morning amid growing tension at St James' Park. Club owner Mike Ashley and executive director Dennis Wise want to cash in on Milner as part of a drive to cut the wage bill.

But boss Kevin Keegan has a thin squad and is adamant Milner should be given a pay rise as one of the young players he wants to build his team around. Moyes' move came after losing out to Liverpool in the race to sign pounds 9m Spain winger Alberto Riera. Keegan looks increasingly likely to lose his battle with Ashley, damaging his position ahead of the trip to Arsenal.

Milner was last night pulled out of the Newcastle squad for the weekend, despite training yesterday and attending a shirt-signing session with fans.

Although he has handed in a transfer request, it was designed to hasten talks over a new and improved contract and Milner would be reluctant to leave. Fellow first-team regulars earn double his pounds 30,000 a week.

Moyes is also tracking Joao Moutinho and is prepared to smash the club's transfer record to prise away the midfielder from Sporting Lisbon for pounds 16m.

Sporting rejected Everton's pounds 11.8m bid and want pounds 20m for Moutinho. But Everton hope they will get him for less.