Aston Villa manager has his list of January transfer targets

Nov 22 2007 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

VILLA manager Martin O'Neill said he knows the players he wants to bring to the club in January.

O'Neill is busy scouting the market for a top-class right-back and is also looking to beef up his midfield and attacking options.

Liverpool's John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch are believed to interest O'Neill, although there is, as yet, no reason to believe they could become available as they have 18 months on their contracts.

Jermaine Defoe has been a long-term target and would appear to have little future at White Hart Lane, while Porto's Jose Boswinga has been a target for some time but is currently playing in the Champions League.

"There is no point on me commenting on all the rumours," said O'Neill. "We are going to be mentioned with players and that is the way it is going to be.

"Between now and Christmas and during the month of January it is going to be chock-a-block with this sort of speculation.

"We will be linked to a lot of players and since one or two are coming out of contract at the end of the season, they are going to be linked with everybody as well.

"At the end of the day we will be looking at a load of players and I know the players who I would be particularly interested in. But I cannot stop speculation."

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