Shakhtar Donetsk face Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup Final this Wednesday. Click here for all the early match betting.

Manchester City club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has revealed that he does not intend to splash the cash in the summer and is expecting steady progress from the club next season.

“A reasonable target next season is the top six,” the chairman told the club’s official website. “I think people see me as a reasonable and realistic man, and I think given what we have done this year and the ambitions we have this summer, a top-six finish next year should be a reasonable and achievable target.

“There will be money for new players this off-season,” he added. “The areas in which the team needs us to invest are clear. We need more depth and to fill the weaker areas within the squad and plans are already advanced.”

However, he did warn that, “We are not going to splash money around, because that model, that formula, doesn’t work. You’re not going to buy 22 new players and then the next year you win the Premier League.

“It needs to be done sustainably, with quality management, quality infra-structure and a quality manager by the pitch. That’s what we are doing. The players will come, and the results will come.”

Khaldoon added that while the squad will be bolstered with imported players, that does not mean that City will players produced through the club’s academy.

“We will not forget the Academy. It is key to our discussions. We have to be able to create that nice balance between a quality, strong first team with depth but at the same time retain the ability to bring in young, talented individuals.

“We have all seen what they [Ireland and Onuoha] have done since getting in the side. They have had fantastic seasons and there are more within the Academy. We need a good platform to bring the young lads into the team.

“The foundations are in place for a very strong second season,” he concluded.

Shakhtar Donetsk face Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup Final this Wednesday. Click here for all the early match betting.

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