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Hughes confident of attracting new players

12/10/2008

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes says he is confident the club will be able to attract new players when the transfer window reopens in January.

City found their new spending power restricted due to the lateness of their takeover by a Dubai consortium at the end of August.

They were still able to sign Brazilian Robinho from Real Madrid but Hughes expects to continue that trend in the new year.

Hughes believes City have certainly caught the attention of the rest of Europe following their takeover and is sure many top names would be happy to move to Eastlands.

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."

The former Blackburn manager says players could be attracted by the prospect of joining an up-and-coming club rather than one of the established top four sides.

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

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

Hughes says he will be looking at any player who could improve his team and will not rule out anyone, whatever stage of their career they are at.

He said: "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."

City have been linked with moves for Kaka from AC Milan, Gianluigi Buffon from Juventus and Fernando Torres from Liverpool in a bid to break into the top four.