After Community Shield Loss Mancini Wins the Fight for More Players

Over the last few weeks, Roberto Mancini has made the point to all who would listen that Manchester City were in desperate need of more players.

Shortly before the Community Shield meeting with Manchester United, he made his thoughts on the matter pretty clear. City were close to United, but not there yet.

In private, he has apparently been fighting for a minimum of four more players to add to a squad that he feels is too weak for both domestic and European competitions.

After the disappointing loss to United in the Community Shield, he appears to have convinced his employers that if they want to make a fist of it in their maiden Champions League season and a sustained challenge for the Premier League title, more bodies are needed.

Mancini expects to complete the signing of Alessio Cerci in the next few days, which will add width to his squad, but from there the cost of his wish list will likely skyrocket.

Mancini expects City to go all out to capture Samir Nasri from Arsenal for nearly £20 million, and despite all parties denying it, City will likely push to sign Wesley Sneijder for about £35 million.

The final signing will be a striker as a long-term replacement for Carlos Tevez, even if Tevez fails to find a new club during this transfer window.

The simple truth of Mancini's assessment, however, seems to be that without more attacking quality and options, City will struggle to hit the lofty ambitions that the owners, manager and fans now all share.