Hughes says City can still attract signings

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is confident his side's current predicament in the Premier League's bottom three will not damage his prospects of landing some top level targets when the January transfer window opens.

City are expected to be the big spenders of English football when trading starts in the New Year with Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz among those widely expected to be on Hughes' wanted list.

Hughes said: "We have a project here and a football club that's in a time in its development that's very exciting and if players see an opportunity to come here we can offer them something that will stimulate them and allow them to progress.

"I think people are realistic about where we are in our development. What they will look at is where we are want to go and from a football point of view that's exciting for anybody.

"The fact is that at this moment we are not in a position would like to be but I think most people in football understand that's not where we anticipate being at the end of the year and as a consequence our ability to attract players won't be damaged."

Hughes, who denied having made a bid for Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra ahead of his move to Real Madrid, said of his Abu Dhabi paymasters who publicly backed him earlier this week: "We speak on a regular basis and we are looking ahead to the window and the players we think have a realistic opportunity of bringing to the club.

"When the window opens we will try and get those players in.

"We are going to turn it round. We are going to bring players in who will help the quality players we have here and when we do that then almost immediately there will be an upturn in fortunes."

According to Hughes, current expectation levels regarding City's status are unrealistic given their recent history as a team which was in the third tier of English football a decade ago and has since consistently flattered to deceive.

"Manchester City as a club and a team has never been able to have that capacity to win games on a regular basis. Where we are at the moment is where we have been for a number of years," he said.

However, the City boss does not believe that this team has a relegation fight on its hands.

He added: "We don't accept that. We are in a position that can be turned round very, very quickly and we certainly expect it to. Back-to-back wins can quickly move you into the top half of the table."