The Socceroos midfielder saw his move to the Premier League club cave in on Deadline Day.
Melbourne Victory can rest easy after reaching September 3 with Mark Milligan still at AAMI Park following the breakdown of his move to Crystal Palace on Transfer Deadline Day.
The Premier League newcomers, also the home of fellow Socceroo Mile Jedinak, launched a third bid to sign the 28-year-old last Thursday but were still locked in negotiations over a fee with Victory as late as Monday afternoon before the deal collapsed.
Fox Sports understand the Eagles’ offer was greater than the $1.3 million fee – an A-League transfer record – received by Central Coast Mariners after the sale of Rostyn Griffiths to Chinese club Guangzhou R&F in 2012.
The midfielder rejected a lucrative switch to UAE club Baniyas in June and was initially hesitant to join Palace ahead of the World Cup but was talked round by Selhurst Park boss Ian Holloway, while Australia head coach Holger Osieck reportedly urged Milligan to test himself in Europe.
Milligan, currently with his country in Brazil ahead of Sunday’s friendly match with the Confederations Cup winners, is said to be fuming that his boyhood ambition to play in England’s top-flight has been thwarted after he flew out to South America under the impression that he would be a Palace player by Tuesday.
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