ROBERTO MANCINI insists he must splash the cash again this summer — despite spending £210million in two years
By MARTIN BLACKBURN and PHIL THOMAS
The Manchester City boss plans a £37m double raid on Lille for striker Eden Hazard and left-back Lucas Digne.
The Italian is desperate to avoid a repeat of the last three months that have shown his expensive squad found wanting after losing key midfielders and defenders to international duty and injury.
His job is currently safe — but that could change if City continue to unravel during the last seven games starting with today’s clash at Arsenal.
If Mancini does stay, he wants to ensure the same difficulties do not re-occur in 12 months time.
He said: “We lost Yaya and Kolo Toure for the African Nations Cup, had some injuries and lost Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott and Sergio Aguero in the last two games. Maybe next year if we lose two important players, we can have another two good players and we can change.
“We finished our job to build a strong team. Now it’s enough to put in three or four more players with a strong mentality.”
Belgian superstar Hazard is high on City’s wishlist after Mancini made a personal check on the £30m-rated winger.
Mancini also wants Digne, 18, a French youth international who recently broke into the first team.
But the Italian reckons these last few weeks have shown United have the squad to go the distance.
He said: “The difference is in 20 players, not the 11, and because they are used to staying on top, they play without problems.”
