Sullivan: Villa can't afford Parker

Published Jul. 22, 2010 7:41 a.m. EDT

foxsports

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan insists midfielder Scott Parker is staying at the club as Aston Villa do not have enough money to sign him.

The Hammers midfielder has been strongly linked with a move to Villa Park following rumours that fellow England international James Milner is on his way to Manchester City.

Parker would be a like-for-like replacement in the Villa midfield, however Sullivan believes Villa do not have the cash required to prise the midfielder away from Upton Park.

"Nothing has changed," Sullivan told the Birmingham Mail. "Aston Villa will not have enough money to tempt us to sell Scott Parker.

"He really is not for sale."

New West Ham boss Avram Grant has been far busier than Martin O'Neill in the transfer market this summer having already signed former Villan Thomas Hitzlsperger from Lazio, Pablo Barrera from UNAM Pumas and Frederic Piquionne from Lyon.