Villa plan £14m double swoop

Villa manager Martin O'Neill will again attempt to roll out the big bucks in January to complete the next phase of his rebuilding programme.

O'Neill's focus is now on finding specialist options for the full-back positions and a £14m double hit for Liverpool's John Arne Riise and Porto's Jose Bosingwa has emerged as the dream solution.

O'Neill wanted both in the summer and thought he had snagged Liverpool's Norwegian international in a £6m deal.

But the move fell through when the Anfield club failed to sign his intended replacement Gabriel Heinze after a bitter war of words with Manchester United.

Risse, who even sold his house in anticipation of a move to the Midlands, is still ready to come and O'Neill is hoping a fresh approach in the new year can do the trickMuch will depend on Benitez's search for a replacement while the continued interest in Bosingwa will be strongly affected by Porto's fortunes in their Champions League campaign.

Ironically, they are in the same group as Liverpool but have made a better start after pulling off an important victory at Besiktas last week.

O'Neill's summer approaches were defied by a stubborn £12m price tag on this 24-year-old who has now broken into the Portugal side but, with the months ticking on in the player's contract, he is hoping for better luck in the new year.

The Villa boss is desperately trying not to become entangled in the escalating transfer fees which have sent prices soaring this year but he is now desperate to strengthen both flanks of his defence.

He's been particularly hit on the right by the retirement of Mark Delaney and Aaron Hughes' sale to Fulham which has seen Olof Mellberg and Craig Gardner filling in this season.