Man City chief rules out summer spree

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak has warned the club's fans not to expect another influx of big-name arrivals during the close season, stating: "It won't be like last summer."

City spent unprecedented levels of money to bring in the likes of Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli and David Silva, and Roberto Mancini justified his purchases by qualifying for the Champions League and winning the FA Cup.

Having secured a place at Europe's top table, it was expected that City would now use Champions League football to lure a host of top names to Eastlands. Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Xavi have all been linked, but Khaldoon insists the club will only tinker with the current squad.

"It won't be like last summer, or the summer before," he said on City's official website. "What you will see this year is strengthening the squad in areas that we feel require more depth. "We don't need quantity, as today we have quality. We just need a couple of players."

Much has been made of the future of Carlos Tevez, with Thursday's newspapers claiming the Argentinian is not happy at Mancini's declaration that he will stay at the club. However, Khaldoon believes City are now set up to cope regardless of individual departures.

"I feel strongly a winning mentality is coming into the team," he said. "We have an incredible squad with so many talented individuals and a lot of heart in that squad. We have an incredible foundation for incredible years ahead."

Manchester City's director of football Brain Marwood backed up that view when he told ESPNsoccernet: "We have made major signings over the past two summers. What is now required is to finesse the squad. That doesn't mean we are going out to buy Messi and Ronaldo. That just isn't happening."

Marwood stressed that it would be illogical to embark on yet another spending spree as the club have to be wary of UEFA's new financial fair play rules as he explained: "You have to be realistic, you have to be sensible, you have to comply with the new financial regulations."

He also added that the club have not received an offer for Carlos Tevez and have no desire to sell their star player. "We want him to stay, of course we do,'' he said. ''Our position hasn't changed. "But in any case, this is not an issue as no offer has been received, and we are not seeking one"