Pellegrini sets targets

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has promised the club will be ambitious if they decide to strengthen their squad this summer.

The Premier League champions must limit their spending to a net £49 million (€60.5m) as punishment for breaching Uefa’s financial fair play regulations.

But City have already insisted the European governing body’s sanctions will not have any “material impact” on their planned transfer activity.

So although any spending would have to total considerably less than last year’s £90m outlay, Pellegrini is still hopeful of securing top targets.

The Chilean said: “We are going to see which is the best way to improve.

“I think one of the most important things for me is to have an ambitious mind.”

Pellegrini’s remarks come after chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak promised that any transfer activity this summer would be swift and decisive.

One issue likely to be exercising City minds is the extraordinary comments of key midfielder Yaya Toure and his agent. Toure has indicated he feels under-appreciated and disrespected. One of his chief complaints appears to be that he felt senior figures at the club failed to acknowledge his birthday.

City have not commented but with the player having signed a new four-year contract just 13 months ago, their position is one of strength.