O'Neill plays down Young price-tag

Martin O’Neill believes he has “earned the right” to make big-money signings as Watford striker Ashley Young prepares to become Aston Villa’s record signing today.

O’Neill will splash out an initial £8m (€12.2m) of new owner Randy Lerner’s fortune plus another possible £1.65m (€2.5m) in add-ons for Young – his largest transaction in more than 15 years as a manager.