Villans duo scoop Barclays awards

Martin O'Neill and Ashley Young have claimed the Barclays Manager and Player of the Month awards for December.

The Aston Villa duo continue to make significant contributions to a Barclays Premier League season which saw the West Midlanders lie in the top four by the turn of the year and remain in the hunt for the title. Young becomes the first player in Barclays Premier League history to win the award three times in a calendar year.

Manager O'Neill, a recipient of the monthly award for the sixth time, guided Villa to an unbeaten December which saw his side win four out of five matches, including three away wins at Everton (3-2), West Ham United (1-0) and Hull City (1-0).

team display

The Villans also impressively saw off the challenge of an in-form Bolton Wanderers side at Villa Park (4-2) before a late Zat Knight strike held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw.

Young's emergence as one the most exciting players in the Barclays Premier League continued apace throughout the month, scoring three goals and contributing two assists to end 2008 in style.

Two goals from the 23-year-old in a man-of-the-match display at Goodison Park, including a scintillating injury-time strike, saw off the challenge of Everton, while another goal from the England international capped a fine team display as Aston Villa defeated Bolton Wanderers.

A crucial assist, meanwhile, in the dying minutes of his side's game at Hull City's KC Stadium resulted in an own-goal which claimed maximum points.

The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel, which includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.

Kaka deal takes football further from reality

At a time when cost-cutting, debt repayment, and spending within means are the latterday idioms there can be few industries in which a record-breaking fee is ready to be paid for an asset. But then top-level football lost touch with the rest of human life some years ago.

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Kaka: Part two of City's plan.

Arsene Wenger, as ever, may have tinged his words with self interest when he said "Manchester City are in a different world" but it is hard to disagree with his opinion that "Man City buying Kaka for £100m is an exception to what is happening in our world."

Football's gravy train had shown signs of slowing down, wracked by the problems affecting the rest of the world. And that's a business world, because football stopped becoming a game for anything apart from those 90 minutes on the pitch some time ago. A bid that will more than double the previous transfer record of a previously unapproached £46m signalled City's bank-rolled new regime are prepared to operate completely beyond the parameters of what had long looked bloated and unsustainable.

Kaka">Kaka forms part two of Manchester City's grand plan to prove themselves to football's playing elite. Robinho, who may well be irked by his compatriot's superior salary and standing, was the first part. Will their signings signal a rush of suitors to get on the phone to their agents to request a move to Eastlands? Manchester could be manna for those agents who had begun to wonder where their next Ferrari was coming from.

The arrival on the scene of the shadowy Kia Joorabchian, the fixer for the chaotic Tevez and Mascherano deals of recent times, shows that those businessmen who choose to line their pockets on the back off football's mega-deals have recognised that there be gold in them there small hills of Beswick.

The ten percenters have been concerned of late that economic crisis may cut into their revenue. City's arrival on the scene with oil-soaked money to burn means the fixers and the third parties will soon have Mark Hughes and Garry Cook's number on speed-dial.

Football was thinking of having to cut its cloth accordingly and even Chelsea are cutting costs. There was hope that there might just be a more level playing field. Big clubs have always spent money and always will, some with mixed success. A lack of cashflow gave rise to hopes of young players and settled teams being given their head. City, as their own performances this season show, can unsettle all that.

The arrival of the Roman Abramovich in 2003 was the beginning of football's billionaire era, he made Chelsea into a contender on the European stage. Yet his reign, newly prudent after the bingeing that hits its peak with the £31m paid for Shevchenko, has proved positive that money can never quite guarantee success. Roman's roubles could not stop a slippery sod of grass denying him on that May night in Moscow.

Like Chelsea fans did, City fans have the right to dream about what money can buy them. Hughes, a decent man caught between his instinct of building a team in a gradual fashion and spending petro-dollars like a spoiled Eastern prince, may not end up being the man to lead them to the initial promised land of the Champions League.

As Claudio Ranieri found, money does not buy time. City cannot reach the Champions League next season and it would rely on the collapse of one of the big four for them to be able to reach it for 2010-11. A team of expensive emigres with egos to match can struggle, whatever, the price-tags. Real Madrid's potless galacticos are testament to that.

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Kia Joorabchian: Soon quick on the scene as City prepare to splash the cash.

In a time of deflation, the arrival of Abu Dhabu looks set to inflate prices into a stratosphere in which few other clubs can breathe. The deal for Kaka supposedly includes a hand-written cheque from Sheikh Al Mansour while up the road, Manchester United, saddled with the burden of being bought during the era of the discredited "debt model", are paying for players like Anderson and Hargreaves in installments. Nor can they afford to pay for Carlos Tevez.

Joorabchian's charge had looked hugely over-priced at £32m. The Kaka cash of £107m has given the Iranian extra bargaining chips in his quest to get the best deal for the Argentine. Meanwhile, "super-agent" Pini Zahavi is said to have trousered £900,000 from Wayne Bridge's transfer, further proof that football's vultures soon circle when they smell money. Reported figures place £27m in the hands of Kaka's hanger-ons should the deal go through; money that is unlikely to be fed back in for the good of the game.

Long an admired cult concern, City may soon find the success they have lacked for two generations no longer evades them. Yet they will lose many of those admirers for their owners' willingness to flaunt their money in such vulgar fashion in such a time of economic malaise.

City deny Kaka deal is done

Manchester City have rejected claims that they have signed Brazilian superstar Kaka.

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Kaka: Waiting on father before any deal can be completed.

Reports had emerged in the United Arab Emirates that the 26-year-old AC Milan star has agreed to join City during the current transfer window.

But City have been quick to dismiss the story, citing its origin as the same source that claimed on Thursday that the deal was off.

In fact, discussions will continue next week when Kaka's father, who is currently on holiday in Brazil, will meet City officials to discuss their proposals.

Earlier, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the Eastlands outfit had made a bid, which was now being considered by the Serie A giants.

The sum involved - £108million - would smash the world record transfer that saw Zinedine Zidane leave Juventus for Real Madrid in 2001.

It is thought Milan will accept the bid, leaving City to persuade Kaka of their worth.

Manager Mark Hughes is confident Kaka will be impressed, with the Blues also lodging a bid with Hamburg for Holland international Nigel De Jong as they look to address the other clear deficiencies in their squad.

Hamburg confirm Man City bid for de Jong

Manchester City have made an official approach for Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong, the Bundesliga's director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer confirmed.

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Nigel de Jong: Subject of City interest.

Beiersdorfer told the Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper the rumoured interest from the Premier League club ''is true''.

''Manchester City have made us an offer,'' he added at the north German club's winter training camp in La Manga.

Beiersdorfer revealed he would discuss the offer with the player and his agent, but early indications appear to suggest the club are ready to accept it.

De Jong's contract, which expires next year, contains a clause that would allow him to leave in the summer for only 2 million euros, while City's offer is a reported 15 million euros (£13.3million).

Beiersdorfer, though, claims he is not convinced De Jong will be keen to join City.

''I have spoken with him about Real Madrid and other clubs in that category, but not about City,'' he told Die Welt newspaper. ''I will now speak with his agent and see what happens.''

De Jong, though, appears rather more amenable to the switch, saying: ''Everybody knows that I would like to play for a big club eventually.

''I count Manchester City in that category. I will take my time and listen to everything and then I will make the right decision for me. But I am a Hamburg player and it could be that I remain so.''

The Dutchman joined Hamburg in 2006 for 1.5million euros from Ajax and has played 66 Bundesliga games for the club, scoring twice.

Rafa rejects terms of new Liverpool contract

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has rejected the terms of a new contract offer, according to the Liverpool Echo.

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Benitez: Yet to commit.

• Hicks backing Benitez to stay

The Spaniard, who has been at the helm of the Anfield outfit since June 2004, has been considering the deal proposed to him by club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett and confirmed last week that an agreement had been reached over the length of his contract and the salary.

However, the Spaniard insists he will only agree to the new deal if given more control over football matters - rather than having to answer to club chief executive Rick Parry.

Benitez, who insists money is not an issue, has informed the American owners of his stand and said: "The owners feel that the manager's decisions need to be subject to the chief executive.

"But I know that I am subject to results and to our fans and they are the best judges I will ever have."

The news comes at a key stage in Liverpool's season, with the Reds to play Merseyside rivals Everton in the Premier League on Monday, and the Liverpool manager confirmed he wants more control over the club's academy.

He is adamant too he should be the man responsible for transfers, providing he conducts his business within the restraints of the club's budget.

Benitez said: ''This is solely about being allowed to manage Liverpool Football Club to the best of my abilities as I see them.

''I believe that this club has the potential to improve - and I just want to be able to help this to happen. I will continue to do my job as manager and concentrate on the thing that our fans want me to focus on - winning trophies for them.

''From the first day I came to the club, I have only ever given 100% - and I will continue to do this.''

Benitez's refusal of the deal will inevitably dominate before Monday's derby, but the boss intends to focus all his thoughts on the game and will strive to ensure his players are not affected by his future.

Indeed, he was keen to dismiss suggestions of a rift with the American owners, describing Hicks as ''very supportive'' and the contracts talks as ''positive and friendly''.

That suggests this will not be the end of the matter, club and manager now in a position where they will seek to address each other's issues with the terms of the tabled contract.

Hicks backing Benitez to stay

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks predicts Rafael Benitez will remain manager for the next five years - and insists he has no concerns at all about the Spaniard's decision to reject the terms of a new contract.

Benitez today chose to decline the deal because of an apparent disagreement with Hicks and his fellow owner George Gillett over his level of control.

Benitez explained: ''The owners feel that the manager's decisions need to be subject to the chief executive.''

But Hicks has subsequently told Sky Sports News he has no worries about the situation, and sent a message to Liverpool fans that he expects Benitez to remain at Anfield for years to come.

''I will be working with Rafa to get this resolved - and I am just not worried about it at all,'' he said. ''Rafa is going to be coach of Liverpool for the next five years, and we will work through all this.''

Hicks concedes Benitez has had qualms about the details of his position - but the American is confident there is no reason to fear an impasse.

''Rafa has been frustrated for a long time at the length of time it has taken certain things to happen,'' he said. ''We understand that and are committed to working with him.

''I think he's just trying to position himself to do his job better. We will work through it. We can fix it - and we will. Rafa wants to be the manager and will be the manager.''

Hicks expects to meet Benitez at the end of this month to discuss any outstanding issues but has made it clear too that the lines of communication have been open and cordial in recent times.

He is also delighted with Liverpool's success on the pitch this season.

''You can't complain being in first place (in the Barclays Premier League),'' Hicks notes. ''I have had a great relationship with Rafa over this past year. We talk often and email even more often - and I have had a lot of fun watching him do a great job this year.

''There are certainly no issues between Rafa and the owners.''