At the beginning of January, Manchester City were linked with a slew of world class talent just as they have been ever since the ADUG takeover. With Lionel Messi, Kaka, Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto'o, and everyone who has ever been in the international spotlight at any given time for their world-class football abilities being linked to Eastlands, it was mind-blowing to see who or what would come to City when the January transfer window opened.

Then something went wrong...

A bid for Roque Santa Cruz was turned down. The Bayern reject who was bought for £3 million by none other than Mark Hughes, has been held at ransom for a staggering £22 million. Jury's out whether Hughes will follow through, but things get worse.

Then news came that Hughes has launched a double bid for....Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy. The mediocre Hammers pair are hot in Hughes sights. After the world-rocking tranfer of Wayne Bridge, Hughes has lived up to the hype by continuing his stronghold on the market by throwing millions around on top-shelf players. Well, let's say mid-shelf players?

The double bid being rejected, a second Bellamy bid rejected, a Shay Given bid rejected, a Taiwo bid rejected. Something is wrong. Things are not going like Hughes or the rest of Manchester City thought it would.

Perhaps Hughes will want to do some well thought out looking and buying this week. All of the players he has recently been linked with are more of the Blackburn stature than the new money-rich Citizens stature which he is the head of. If he does not get on it I have a strange feeling their might be a new Italian sitting amoungst the Eastlands faithful. (Hint, his son played for City last year. Not Peter Schmeichel).