Investment must be worthwhile, Man City officials say

Manchester: Mark Hughes is cautiously optimistic that his signings for next season will receive the blessing of Manchester City's owners.

The manager told Gulf News yesterday: "We have to be realistic about big name signings for the next season. As usual we will go to the market and discuss player purchase with the players themselves and the clubs but we will also be careful about whom we are signing.

"People are speculating that Manchester City is prepared to throw money but what I want to tell them is if we don't get our money's worth we will walk away from potential signings. The players who are our targets must be more than just good players. They must fit into the Manchester City profiles. Only then will the investment be deemed as worthwhile. I think too many mistakes were made in the past."

The club's chief executive, Garry Cook, endorsed Hughes's views. "The management has set their expectations of success from within the existing infrastructure. Football is the core competency of our business and this is the most important factor that we keep in mind."

One the influence exerted by club owner Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, he said: "We are blessed. We are in a position like no other. They have ambition and their investment has shown that they want the best. They are also pragmatic and understand the need to build the business process in order to make the right decisions."