SOCCER NEWS ROUND-UP:MANCHESTER CITY yesterday embarked on a bit of retail therapy to get over the disappointment of missing out on Kaka — with the prospect of more to come.

Kaka may not be heading to Eastlands for a January 28th debut against Newcastle, but Netherlands midfielder Nigel de Jong is – after the 24-year-old signed a four-and-a-half-year contract to complete an €18 million move from Hamburg.

De Jong, a former team-mate of City player Vincent Kompany, is expected to bring added steel to the City midfield which has lacked a physical presence – according to manager Mark Hughes.

De Jong said of his move: “I feel very good and for me it is the next step in my own career after three years in Germany and I hope to be successful at Manchester City.

“The ideas and the planning behind this club are very hopeful and it is a new adventure so I am delighted to be here right now.”

The former Ajax player has become Hughes’ third signing of the transfer window – following Wayne Bridge and Craig Bellamy, whose arrival came just hours before Kaka’s very public snub on Monday night.

Now executive chairman Garry Cook will turn his attention to Hughes’ other targets. Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given is high on the list – while interest has been registered in Chelsea’s out-of-favour defender Branislav Ivanovic, who is also attracting the attention of Inter Milan.

City have just under two weeks to bring new faces in, before Sheikh Mansour must close his cheque-book until the summer.

Cook has confirmed plans are already in place to replenish City’s squad then, and over the 12 months that follow.

“Over the next four windows we have got a clear list of players we would like to see at this football club,” said Cook.

“We choose not to get into the public space, which allows itself to be speculative, but we clearly know what we’re doing — and I think that the fans are going to be excited.” That is not to say everyone is impressed.

In fact, one of City’s most famous fans – former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton – is distinctly unimpressed.

Hatton has launched a stinging attack on the Blues’ Abu Dhabi-based owners, who he feels have got their strategy completely wrong and are only opening City up to ridicule by the high-profile pursuits of Kaka and Ronaldinho.

“Since the money came in, the fans have had these huge expectations — and it’s all gone a little bit pear-shaped.

“After Kaka, there is (Lionel) Messi and (Fernando) Torres.

“But you can’t attract the best players in the world if you’re sixth-bottom of the Premier League.

City are actually 11th in the table but remain just four points off the bottom and in the thick of a congested relegation battle.