Man City goalkeeper Shay Given believes the club's signings so far this summer show they mean business.
Experienced shot-stopper optimistic ahead of new season
Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given believes the club's signings so far this summer show they mean business next season.
The Blues narrowly missed out on a place in the UEFA Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League last term - Tottenham the side who pipped them to the post.
Roberto Mancini is still manager at Eastlands, though, despite speculation that he may step down.
City have already splashed more than £35million on Jerome Boateng and David Silva, who are set to link up with the squad after the World Cup, while Yaya Toure will also join their ranks.
Given is happy with the new signings and says it shows the ambition of the club to move forward and compete at the very top.
"Everyone knows from the signings that we have made this summer that we mean business," he said.
"The new owners are obviously ambitious. They want us to win trophies and challenge for the Premier League and we have a strong squad already.
"Boateng and Silva will add to that and will make us stronger. I think we'll get a couple more players which will boost the ranks at the club and it's an exciting time to be a player or a fan of Manchester City.
"Obviously we are not up there with the likes of Chelsea and Man United in terms of trophies on the mantelpiece, we have to catch up in that sense, but by the time we have put our whole squad together by the end of this window then we will have as good a squad as them which will hopefully mean that we will be able to challenge them.
"We want to win something this season. We have a good squad of players so there's no reason why we shouldn't be challenging for top honours."
Top-four target
Given, 34, has Champions League experience with Newcastle and is determined to finish in the top four and earn a place among Europe's elite.
"It would be fantastic if we qualified," said the Republic of Ireland international added.
"I have great memories from my time at Newcastle when I played Champions League football there.
"It would be fantastic for the fans as well to travel around Europe and play in some big nights.
"It's where every team wants to be and we want to achieve that."
Given missed the last three games of City's last campaign after dislocating his shoulder against Arsenal but after an operation he is confident he will be fit come August.
He remarked: "I probably won't be able to play all of the pre-season games but I should be going all guns blazing when the season starts."
