Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland says a top six target is a must next season.

"The chairman has already said that the top six is the aim this season and it has got to be," he declared on City's website.

"We have to push on. If we get all the players the manager has targeted we will have a squad that is the equal of those sides who seem to win everything between them and are always in the Champions League.

"What the new signings have done already is give the manger many more options. At times last season other sides had worked out how to stop us playing so effectively but now they will not know what is coming in terms of formations. We could play almost any way with the players we have.

"There may be more rest and rotation this season but that is no bad thing if games are coming thick and fast like they do at Christmas and New Year. Top clubs need good players to fall back on."