Sun: Martin O'Neill plans to start banking on Aston Villa's new real appeal. The Villa boss will be allowed to dip his hand into owner Randy Lerner's wallet when the transfer window opens on Thursday. And O'Neill believes his recruitment drive has been given a massive lift with the club fifth in the Premier League and in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. O'Neill insists he is yet to make an enquiry for anybody and dismissed suggestions he had lodged a bid for Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe.

Daily Express: Martin O'Neill has slammed reports that he has made a huge bid for Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe but confirmed he does want players to arrive next month so that Aston Villa can sustain their bid for Champions League football.

Times: Martin O'Neill, the Aston Villa manager, has dismissed reports he has bid for Jermain Defoe, the Portsmouth forward. It was rumoured that Villa had made an offer of about £10 million for the England international. But O'Neill, while admitting he is keen to strengthen his squad next month, insisted he yet to approach any clubs.

Birmingham Post: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has dismissed reports he has bid for Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe. O'Neill is keen to strengthen his squad next month but stressed he has not yet made any offers to clubs for players.

Birmingham Post: Martin O'Neill is wary of Hull City's threat as his side set about registering a fourth straight win on the road. Villa head for the KC Stadium for the first time since Gareth Barry's penalty gave them a 1-0 victory over Peter Taylor's then Championship outfit three years ago in the FA Cup. Successive heavy defeats to Sunderland and Manchester City, which have seen them leak nine goals, have punctured a buoyant atmosphere surrounding Phil Brown's team. But O'Neill is expecting a tough encounter against a side who are still in the top eight.

Guardian: Martin O'Neill was never given a team talk on the field, at half-time, by his mentor Brian Clough but Aston Villa's manager is convinced that the ­unprecedented actions of his Hull City counterpart, Phil Brown, at the City of Manchester Stadium on Boxing Day will have done nothing to assist Villa's attempts to reclaim a Champions League qualifying position this evening. Former professionals have cast doubt on the wisdom of Brown's public chastise­ment of his players, suggesting his "showboating" might irreparably damage dressing-room morale, the key factor that has propelled Hull so far already this season. But O'Neill, albeit unlikely to espouse Brown's unorthodox methods, fully expects to face a team "fired up and determined to make it really hard for us" at the KC Stadium.

Sky Sports: Martin O'Neill admits the challenge ahead will be tough as he attempts to guide Aston Villa into the lucrative UEFA Champions League. Villa currently sit in fifth spot in the Premier League but can jump back into the top four with a positive result at Hull City on Tuesday night. While delighted with Villa's showing so far, including coming back from behind to draw with Arsenal on Boxing Day, O'Neill believes the 'Big Four' have the advantage in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

Independent: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has challenged his players to show they can last the pace in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Mirror: QPR are set to beat Cardiff to the £250,000 capture of Aston Villa winger Wayne Routledge. Routledge is on loan at Ninian Park and has scored twice in nine games. Cardiff want a permanent deal but the player favours a move to London.