Hughes confident over new faces

Hughes: Transfer confidence

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Mark Hughes is confident he can still lure the biggest stars in football to Manchester City, despite not being able to offer UEFA Champions League football.

Hughes is expected to spend big in the January transfer window with the financial muscle of new owners the Abu Dhabi United Group at his disposal.

City broke the British transfer record to bring Brazil international Robinho to Eastlands from Real Madrid on 1st September, and further high-profile names are expected to follow.

While many of the game's leading players are eager to feature in Europe's leading club competition, City can currently only offer Uefa Cup football.

But Hughes feels their lofty ambitions for the future, coupled with the wages they are now able to pay, will aid their quest for talent.

Attractive proposition

He told the Sunday Mirror: "We haven't got the lure of Champions League football to help us when we are negotiating for players, but there are other benefits for coming to Manchester City.

"We feel we can offer big-name players something that little bit different - although obviously the aim is that we eventually have a team playing in the Champions League.

"Whether that is money or just a different challenge I don't know.

"But we are now in a position where Manchester City are a very attractive proposition to top players, even if we're not yet in the Champions League.

"The arrival of Robinho was a signal of intent that there is now another major player in town. I am sure that there will be top players out there who are at different stages of their career who will now look at Manchester City as a viable option."