CITY are in pursuit of FOUR more signings - but have dismissed outlandish claims which link them with every megastar in the universe.

The Blues have not wavered from the transfer plan they established in spring, and are already a third of the way to their target after capturing Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry.

The club is also cautiously optimistic of adding Carlos Tevez to the tally next week, although it appears he is being dangled in front of other clubs by Kia Joorabchain, who still owns the player.

M.E.N. Sport understands the other three targets are defenders Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure, and - though they are playing it cool on their final quarry - Samuel Eto'o.

A City source said: "We are being linked with everyone going, as if we are trying to sweep up every player out there - it is mostly fiction.

"We had a plan at the start of the summer, and we are sticking to that plan."

Stars
That tallies with chairman Khalddon al Mubarak's statement last week that the Blues were in the market for five or six signings.

It appears that talk linking the Blues, who have also added back-up keeper Stuart Taylor, with Inter Milan right-back Maicon is unfounded.

One report claimed City would offer his fellow Brazilian Elano as part of an exchange deal, but that is wide of the mark - although the midfielder does appear to want a move to Italy and would be allowed to go if the offer was right.

While the pursuit of major stars continues, the Blues showed their ongoing commitment to home-grown talent by handing 19-year-old reserve striker Donal McDermott a two-year contract extension.

The Dubliner, a member of the 2007 FA Youth Cup- winning team, said: "Life is exciting here and I'm sure it will be more so. The reserves under Glyn Hodges feels like you're part of the senior set-up - when they went to Schalke and Santander last season, we went as well.You feel part of unbelievable times here."