Kaka may not be heading to Eastlands for a January 28 debut against Newcastle, but Holland midfielder Nigel de Jong is - after the 24-year-old signed a four-and-a-half-year contract to complete a £17million move from Hamburg.

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

The former Ajax star 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.

"We had very clear plans going into this transfer window and we are ticking the boxes as we go," Cook told www.mcfc.co.uk.

"There are a couple of others that we are still working on. As yet, there is nothing more to report - but overall we have had a good transfer window."

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.

"At the minute, I feel like giving them the money back," the 31-year-old told the Daily Mail.

"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 (Barclays) Premier League.

"The problem is that sometimes we look good enough to win the Premier League - and sometimes we look like we belong in the Blue Square North."

City are actually 11th in the table but remain just four points off the bottom and in the thick of a congested relegation battle, even if few expect them to be there in May.

Most fans are in disagreement with Hatton's assessment.

Currently the major concern, aside from the Kaka deal falling through, is Robinho's continuing absence.

The £32.5million forward has pledged to return, after quitting City's warm weather training camp in Tenerife to fly back to Brazil to address "a family matter".

It is not known when that will be, although he is expected to be facing a fine when he does arrive in the UK - because he left without Hughes' permission.

That should not jeopardise his chances of being involved against Newcastle, though, as City look to maintain their run of seven points from three games - which represents their best of the season.

"We have got some great players here, and adding to the squad is only going to enhance us," said Cook.

"We are on a bit of a run now - and we would like to continue it."

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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."