City already searching for stars

Eastlands outfit already have 'private detectives' working abroad

Last updated: 30th September 2008

City already searching for stars

Hughes: Wants to maintain harmony

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Manchester City have revealed their search for top talent to bring to Eastlands in January is already well underway.

City are now one of the heavyweights in the football transfer market following the arrival of billionaire new owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group, in August.

Backed by new found riches, boss Mark Hughes signed Robinho in a British record deal from Real Madrid on deadline day of the summer transfer window, while he also bid for Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez and Valencia star David Villa.

And Hughes' assistant manager Mark Bowen has now revealed that City, who have also been linked with Bayern Munich forward Lukas Podolski, already have their 'private detective' scouts working abroad in preparation for when the transfer window reopens in 2009.

Budget

"We have people out there looking at names already, we will be travelling Europe over the next few months," Bowen told City's official website.

"We also have the chance, because we know what the budget is, to target players at the very top so if you think you can get them maybe they will come."

Bowen, though, insists Hughes is determined to maintain harmony at City and is eager to secure a strong dressing room spirit.

"You can also do a lot of background work, a lot of our scouts might almost be like private detectives to see if a target might settle in with us," Bowen added.

Embrace

"Are they likely to embrace what we do, not just on the pitch but on the training ground as well?

"The gaffer puts a lot of emphasis on training and if you are asking players to perform at the highest level of intensity, then bringing people in who just want to stand around at training counting the hours to Saturday might upset the balance as well.

"That homework has to be done. Possibly the hardest job will be careful selection of the players we bring in, but also moulding them into a team. We have to make sure that we have a team.

"You can't just point at the best players in the world, it does not work that way. You have to man-manage them and motivate them, you have to carefully select who you bring in and who they will work around."