Abu Dhabi: Bani Yas have started negotiating to sign Australian midfielder Mark Milligan in a bid to replace his countryman Nicholas Alberto, whose loan finished at the end of the season.
Milligan, 27, currently plays for Melbourne Victory and has featured for all the Australian national teams — juniors, youths and seniors — with 19 caps and two goals at the highest level.
Bani Yas are interested in signing him, but face competition from English club Queens Park Rangers, who have just been relegated from the Premier League.
Milligan started his career in 2002 with Northern Spirit before going to Blacktown City in 2004 and shifting to Sydney FC in 2005 and to Newcastle Jets in 2008.
In 2009, Milligan played for the first time outside his country when he joined Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, for whom he played 25 matches and scored one goal. Then he joined Japanese club Jef United, playing 53 matches and scoring three goals before returning to Newcastle Jets in 2010 and then being loaned to Melbourne Victory.
