Melbourne Victory insist Mark Milligan will be going nowhere after the club rejected a transfer bid for the experienced midfielder.
Milligan, who has had stints in China, Japan and the UAE, has reportedly drawn interest from Saudi Arabia.
But Victory manager Kevin Muscat confirmed the club’s stance in a statement released on Monday night.
“There’s always going to be interest in a player of Mark’s calibre, but Mark is a contracted Melbourne Victory player, and, more importantly, a required one,” Muscat said.
“Significant planning, time and effort went into building our squad for this season and Mark’s signing was an integral part of that, so the club is not prepared to entertain offers for his services.
“A formal offer was lodged and subsequently rejected – that’s as far as it went.”
Milligan returned to former club Victory on a one-year marquee deal in July 2017.
The Caltex Socceroo will be available for Friday’s Australia Day clash with Sydney FC at AAMI Park.
#MVFC statement regarding Mark Milligan. https://t.co/hhNK2Yx965 pic.twitter.com/l9A297X6AR
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) January 22, 2018
