MARK Hughes has strengthened his midfield, added a much-needed aerial threat to his attack and bolstered his goalkeeping department this summer.

But now the City manager's top priority is to add steel to his defence in the form of a top-class centre-back.

While Hughes continues to seek the best attacking talent to fire the Blues on the path to glory, including Samuel Eto'o and Carlos Tevez, he knows locking the back door will be vital to their hopes of success.

City proved last term that they could score goals - but all too often, they couldn't keep the opposition out.

Base

And that is why the manager wants to ensure this season's bid to breach the top four of the Premier League is built on a solid base.

Hughes has looked at signing Chelsea's John Terry, Everton's Joleon Lescott or Bayern Munich's Brazil captain Lucio to form the defensive rock on which to build that success. Bringing in any of those three stars would send out another clear signal of intent that the Blues mean business this coming season.

The City boss has already worked fast in the transfer market this summer, snapping up Gareth Barry from Aston Villa for £12m and Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn.

The free transfer signing of goalkeeper Stuart Taylor from Aston Villa attracted nowhere near as much publicity, but the 28-year-old will provide invaluable back-up to Shay Given and has allowed Joe Hart to gain some more Premier League experience on a season's loan at Birmingham.

Given's arrival from Newcastle for £8m in January - along with the £10m signing of left-back Wayne Bridge - marked the start of Hughes' drive to bolster his back line.

Hughes signed the Irishman because the chance to snap up arguably the Premier League's most consistent goalkeeper was too good to miss.

Nonetheless, even with the excellent Given between the sticks, the Blues still let in too many goals for Hughes' liking.

Statistics

And the statistics show that City's defensive record cost them a place in Europe.

The Blues scored 58 Premier League goals last season - more than any team outside the top four. But they let in 50, three fewer than the previous season, but still more than any other top 10 side.

Moreover, only one of City's 10 Premier League clean sheets last term came away from home, in a 3-0 victory at Sunderland last August.

Hughes said many times last season that City had to tighten up away from home if they wanted to be successful.

He wants a team with the attacking verve that terrorised opposing Premier League defences last season.

But he wants to add to it a defensive resolve that enables the Blues to grind out results when the going gets tough.

That is why Hughes will be hoping to have a new central defender to show off to the fans and the media at some point between now and August 15, when City kick off their Premier League campaign at Blackburn.

Selling

And while Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp would both like to see City's four-times player of the year Richard Dunne at their clubs, Hughes will not consider selling unless he has a replacement.

As far as the City boss is concerned, any summer transfer movements - in or out of Eastlands - should be about strengthening the squad, not weakening it.

He feels the club is moving in the right direction on that front.

He said: "As a group and as a club, we're in a better position now to be successful in future than when I walked through the door.

"The changes that we've made now will enable us in future, I feel, to be a lot more successful on a regular basis."

And Hughes feels the Blues can challenge the top four this season.

"I expect us to be really strong," he said. "There is a lot of conjecture out there suggesting that no one can break into the top four and that we are kidding ourselves. But I think there is a growing understanding that we could be a factor.

"If you look at the bookies odds I think they also feel that we have a chance. We are much shorter odds than we have been in previous seasons. There is a real sense that we can fulfil expectations this year. Last year it was a struggle because expectations were too high and we weren't in a position to fulfil them."

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