For the next man through the dressing room door will be huge in terms of convincing watchful supporters that things are progressing in the manner they had all hoped.
While the arrival of Brazil striker Jo, pleasingly on the mark for his country in an international warm-up this week, from CSKA was a welcome if expensive addition to the squad, there have been raised eyebrows that the next man in should be a central defender in the shape of Tal Ben-Haim.
Of all the areas of the team that need strengthening the heart of the defence did not seem an obvious candidate unless of course there are plans to convert Micah Richards, Vedran Corluka or Nedum Onuoha into something other than a defender.
Not that Tal Ben-Haim is a poor signing. He is an accomplished defender worthy of any Premier League side outside the top four as he showed in his time at Bolton Wanderers.
Most top-flight managers would be happy to have the Israeli in their squad, but not if it meant the budget did not stretch to kitting out other more needy areas of the team.
Nod
Jo, of course, was not a Hughes signing for although the manager gave it the final nod, the identification, groundwork and the negotiating had been done long before the boss moved from Ewood Park.
Though Ben-Haim has been touted for City ever since it became clear that agent Pini Zahavi was keen to move him out of Chelsea, he has more of the Hughes' approval stamp.
Even so, the identity of the next incoming player is important for both Hughes and executive chairman Garry Cook in terms of the mindset of the 40,000 plus who will be filling Eastlands this season.
Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz being landed by Hughes for around £15million would be proof positive for the doubters that the manager's wishes are being adhered to wherever possible and that there is more in the transfer pot than a series of buys on the never-never have indicated for the past twelve months.
Such a benchmark purchase would also take spending to close to the £40m mark for the summer and be the clearest indicator yet that owner Thaksin Shinawatra means business in the assault on a top-six place which is likely to be more competitive than ever this season with Spurs likely to join all last season's usual suspects.
A blue-chip purchase from another Premier League club will still leave Hughes looking for a goalkeeper, left back, holding midfielder and a right winger but at least it will bring added peace of mind in the stands and that is paramount to City being a successful club on and off the pitch.
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I think Mr. Bailey answers one of his own concerns here. He is right. City wouldn't be signing a player like Ben Haim if it was taking up a sizeable part of the transfer fund available, while other areas to strengthen seem more of a priority. Therefore, what he is saying here, should put paid to any doubters that there ARE significant funds available.
To a degree i can understand biding your time,but at present we can't afford to bide our time in fear of missing out on certain targets.
Time is ticking?
If we are to go for another striker that will add quality and is less likely to be a risk,and as long as he would be interested in joining us,there is only 1 man I would go for....Huntelaar! in general(and I know there is always the exception to the rule) Dutch players seem to settle to life in English football a lot easier than some other foreign players. He scores bags of goals,played and scored for his country and played in Europe,and would cost around the same as Santa Cruz!
We do not have much time to "bide". Sure you can do business right up to the wire after all look at the Benjani fiasco last January !
huntelaar wouldnt do any thing in england anyeone can score in holland even kezman and kuyt but once they make the switch to england there **** so dont sign him overated
How old is Gudjohnson? I still think he would be a good signing at a much cheaper price to Santa Cruz(although I would like him too)
As for a right winger what about Joaquín from Valencia, as they are in a dire financial situation, reckon we could get him for as little as £10mill?
If Huntelaar can play as well in the Prem as in Holland then he would be a better signing than Santa Cruz. Whoever we sign it will improve the weak areas of the squad. Personally I'd like to see Milito signed, if we are to play with two wingers and the ball is being crossed into the box then we need a player who is good in the air, and Milito is supposed to be the best in the business. Remember last season when we had Elano and Vassell up front and Petrov kept firing crosses in ? Can we please buy Banega and Taiwo as we should hopefully be able to get them cheaply and on the drip !
I have confidence that Hughes will go about his business in a professional way and we will have some very decent players by the end of the deadline.
This comment is nonsensical.
We have spent over £20 Million yet the MEN wonders if the club are serious?
I get the feeling that City could spend £100 Million tihi Summer and the MEN would still be critical.
BlueSte, sounds to me as if Mr Bailey EXPECTS Santa Cruz's arrival,...........is that so Chris ??
Mr. Bailey, you really annoy me sometimes. TBH a player not good enough for any of the top 4? Mourinho wanted him at Chelsea. And after losing his place under a new manager, how does that make him not good enough for any of the top 4?
Than you say due to a big enough budget City got TBH in. I thought your newspaper doubted the kitty available to Hughes to be the least suspicious?
The signing of TBH raised eyebrowes as for the position that doesn't need strenghtening? Look at our back four the last few months. And why would you than go on saying how good it would look to the fans to get a big signing like RSC in? As if we don't have enough forewards in the books.
Maybe it's time the make the MEN a newsfactory and sent you outside the office to actually gain some.
TO MEN:
Please make a vote:
Does City need RSC YES/NO.
To me, we don't need him.
When we play 4-5-1 we use Jo.
When we play 4-4-2 we use Jo + Boj/Bejani/Evans/Sturridge/Bianchi.
If we get RSC the other will maybe get 5-10 starts between them.
How can Evans and Sturridge then ever become City stars here ?
Its now or never !
MH will start to form his own team in teh same way that the Spurs guy is doing in London. Reading other city sites, it seems Santa Cruz is close to a deal http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=117580
Still feel we need to ensure creativity and balance, if still had Weaver, we wouldn't need to be looking for an experienced goalie, we need a better veriosn of barton, a good right midfield/winger and good reliable left back, plus cover. if we end up doing well in Europe and maybe a league and FA cup run we need depth. However, if Frank goes down in Thailand we are going to have some dark days ahead. Lets just hope we get off to a good start.
I am really impressed with Mark Hughes getting rid of dross in four weeks quicker than most ex city managers could have done over two years. He clearly means business. PLEASE SELL VASSELL AND BALL. They are totally garbage especially vassell. would not shed any tears if Stephen Ireland left either.