Manchester City are set to continue spending to aid their quest for a Champions League spot in January, according to a report in the Daily Mail this morning.

Ian Ladyman writes: "It is understood that Hughes, who spent more than £120million this summer, has been given the go-ahead by the club's owners to take the next step in the New Year after he made it clear that his squad still need a right back, a left back and another creative midfielder. With Hughes' team likely to be in or around the Champions League places in January, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has indicated to the manager that he will be given whatever it takes to ensure qualification for next season's competition."

Ladyman adds: "The lure of Champions League football will also make it easier to attract star names to Eastlands, something that handicapped the club when they tried to sign John Terry from Chelsea and Kaka from AC Milan last January. This tangible shift in status spells bad news for the rest of the Premier League and also for the current City full backs - Micah Richards, Pablo Zabaleta and Wayne Bridge."

Mark Hughes is understood to be disappointed with Micah Richards’ performances since he joined the club and feels a top class right back needs to be brought in to shore up the defence. The coaching staff are also reportedly disappointed with Wayne Bridge’s impact since joining from Chelsea last January.

Barcelona defenders Carlos Puyol and Eric Abidal are cited in the Daily Mail as potential targets for City. Puyol is out of contract at the end of the season and is currently in negotiations with the Catalan giants.