Kevin Keegan's disquiet at Newcastle's failure to secure the long-term futures of some of the club's key personnel has proved well-founded after the club confirmed that James Milner has submitted a transfer request. Milner's desire to leave for Aston Villa is likely to feature high on the agenda when Keegan holds a scheduled summit meeting today with Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, about the club's future direction.

"Newcastle United can confirm that it has received a written transfer request from James Milner," read a club statement. "The club is very disappointed that James sees his footballing future as being away from St James' Park. He is a valued member of the squad and it is only a year ago that he signed an improved long-term contract.

"We have yet to receive an offer for James that has matched our valuation of him. However, should such an offer be received then the club would be reluctantly forced to consider it, given James' apparent desire to leave."

They may not have to wait long. Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was on hand at the Ricoh Arena last night to watch Newcastle's Carling Cup clash with Coventry, and his long-standing interest in Milner, who has also been linked with Liverpool, will have been encouraged by a commanding display from the winger. Milner set up the first two goals in a 3-2 win for Newcastle, prompting Keegan to reiterate his desire to keep the England Under-21 midfielder while pressing the player's claims to a place in the national side.

"James has a three-year-contract," said Keegan. "I do not even want to talk about losing him. He is absolutely top notch — one that Fabio Capello should have a serious look at. Once you have played 30 games for the Under-21s you deserve a crack at the big time."

The departure of Milner, who is paid substantially less than several of his Newcastle team-mates, would exacerbate Keegan's misgivings about the club's failure to negotiate proposed contract extensions for Michael Owen and Steve Harper.