CITY'S pursuit of Kaka, whether it ultimately succeeds or not, proves one thing to Blues fans - the Arab owners were deadly serious when they stressed they intended to make the club a football superpower.

The deeply religious Brazilian superstar's arrival, if secured, will be manna from heaven for supporters that have lived too long on the `jam tomorrow' principle and seen their dreams of glory shattered on so many broken promises.

Debates about whether Kaka is worth £100m - is any footballer? - are immaterial because if that is what Sheikh Mansour wishes to purchase with his untold riches then that is his business and his alone.

The negative arguments about dressing room unrest and a growing Brazilian clique at City should immediately be swept aside for the nonsense that it is.

For a start which player of any nationality in his right mind would not want to play alongside a man who at 26-years-old is at the peak of his considerable powers and is considered, on an annual basis, to be one of the top five footballers in the world?

And unless those same players are completely in need of a brain transplant or a quick lesson in how the real world operates they will recognise, too, that special talent has to be specially rewarded and there will be no big queue of would-be Olivers outside the manager's door begging for `more please'.

Instead what having Kaka, who speaks excellent English and would be able to integrate into the dressing room much more quickly than his countrymen have been able to do, and Robinho in tandem would undoubtedly achieve is to make the Blues one of the most attractive destinations in world football.

Exciting

Both are young enough to help establish a new and exciting football dynasty.

There are no negatives attached to the potential signing of Kaka except the rank feeling of disappointment that will now accompany any failure to land the transfer coup of this or any other century.

That is precisely why the Blues have been reluctant to say anything on the record since Milan owner and Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi chose to break news of a meeting between officials of the two clubs earlier in the week.

What they might say when they do break their silence is that this episode has been no whim or flight of fancy of rich man looking to enhance his English plaything.

Every since Sheikh Mansour took over from Thaksin Shinawatra, so saving the Blues from possible administration in the process, he and his chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak have had a twin approach to team building that encompassed both the pragmatic - their buzzword - and the breathtaking.

Although Robinho's British record purchase was spur of the moment, the chase of Kaka has been carefully planned.

Boss Mark Hughes is a huge fan and endorsed the Brazilian as top of the list of wanted Galacticos and City's manager and owners quickly and astutely identified Kaka as a more attainable target in the short term than Lionel Messi at Barcelona, Stevie Gerrard at Liverpool or Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas.

Milan are one of the grandest clubs in the world yet they are not free from the current financial problems and are about to enter a period of massive transition on the pitch.

They have an ageing side in need of refurbishment that is not competing for the Champions League this season and is unlikely to win its own domestic title that appears destined for deadly rivals Inter.

Kaka is their most precious jewel and whose market value alone is enough to cure many of Milan's current ills.

In addition City are just about the only club in the world who can afford him and his wages and to be able to pay up front.

Desire

In addition the Blues are well aware that Kaka has already expressed a desire to play in the Premier League one day, will pay back a slice of his enormous fee and wages in terms of the commercial activity he will generate across the globe, and has been speaking excitedly to both Robinho and Elano about the possibility of swapping the red half of Milan for the Blue half of Manchester.

Robinho told close friends in Manchester several weeks ago that boss Hughes had informed him of the attempt to secure Kaka's services and this month's transfer targets have all been lured by the same persuasive news that they could soon be starring alongside the legendary Brazilian at a packed Eastlands.

It is vitally important that amongst the predictable brouhaha over Kaka and his possible capture that those `other targets' should not be forgotten or ignored.

In this column earlier this month I alluded to the problem of having too many cherries and no cake to put them on and a City fan on our website this week drew a similar analogy when referring to a statement from the late, great Brian Clough that every successful team needs three concert pianists and eight piano shifters.

Whether City fans are food or music lovers they are surely all of the same opinion that Hughes' current team needs more a `cake' or `shifters' if it is to be both balanced and consistent.

Of course, the news that City's top brass have been in Milan with a staggering £100m burning a hole in their back pocket will have been greeted with glee at Ewood, Upton, St James and Goodison Parks where the prices for Roque Santa Cruz, Craig Bellamy, Scott Parker, Shay Given and Joleon Lescott all went up this morning as a consequence. There is no doubt whatsoever that other Premier League clubs will now see City as a cash cow but executive chairman Garry Cook and chief operating officer Paul Aldridge, and the owner and chairman, simply have to hold their nerve and deliver a percentage on the manager's other list.

Football is the ultimate team game and even a player as great as Kaka or as talented as Robinho cannot win games on his own.

Such glittering stars need to be placed amongst perhaps slightly less exalted players who can bring the best out of them within a team shape and tactics.

If Kaka does arrive, and that is still in doubt, then the pressure on boss Hughes to deliver safety this season followed by a dollop of success next term will be immense and the least the board can do is provide him with some depth and additional Premier League and international quality to go with the superstars.

Then the neighbours and the rest of the English footballing aristocracy might really have to man their barricades! Tweet