Where are City's A-listers?

Manchester City have shelled out huge sums to add to their squad this summer, but have they brought in enough quality? The Sun’s Steven Howard certainly does not think so.

They were the club who announced they intended to sign Lionel Messi, Kaka, Cesc Fabregas and Juventus keeper Gigi Buffon.

Oh, yes, and Cristiano Ronaldo was also on his way to Manchester City - in the January 2009 transfer window for £135million.

As the Manchester United fans waiting for the tram that would take them back into the city centre after the 3-0 win over Newcastle last Monday chanted: "They wanted Kaka and got Bellamy - City are a massive club."

To date Sheikh Mansour has splashed £355m on transfer fees, including £130m in the close season alone.

Throw in £488m in wages, the £210m cost of the takeover and a further £20m capital expenditure and we're already up to an incredible £1billion.

Kamikaze spending.

Yet City still can't get the mega-stars. Instead, they have been forced to settle for second best. It's David Silva not David Villa. It's Mario Balotelli not Fernando Torres.

The same David Silva who will remember Spain's World Cup-winning triumph in South Africa as the time he lost his place in the starting line-up.

And 20-year-old Balotelli, largely unknown outside Italy and on the bench during Inter Milan's run to Champions League glory.

Now 28 goals in 86 appearances isn't bad for a kid - not to mention his debut goal last night - but City are still forking out a massive £23m just on potential.

And a player with a reputation as a trouble-maker.

There are also massive question marks over holding midfielder Yaya Toure (£24m) plus defenders Jerome Boateng (£10.5m) and Alexsandar Kolarov (£16m).

Yet the key to buying the title is an out-and-out goalscorer.

As Blackburn proved when they broke the British transfer record by signing Alan Shearer for £3.3m in 1992-93.

As Chelsea confirmed in 2004 when they paid a club record £24m for Didier Drogba, the hottest young striker in Europe.

Yes, Carlos Tevez did everything that could have been asked of him last season knocking in 23 goals from 33 starts. But the Argentine needs to be playing off a more orthodox striker.

Emmanuel Adebayor? His problem is it all depends whether he's in the mood and he doesn't flick that particular switch too often.

Roque Santa Cruz? A Mark Hughes buy, he could be on his way out after just six league starts at half the £17.5m he cost.

And, finally, there's James Milner for another £24m - the same fee Manchester United paid for Wayne Rooney six years ago.

The same fee for which Real Madrid have purchased both Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, two of Germany's outstanding young World Cup stars. Yes, BOTH of them.

Sure, Milner did well for Aston Villa last season but he's still an England squad player who had a half-decent game in South Africa against Slovenia but did little else.

An England squad player who was hooked after just 29 minutes against the USA after being given the run-around by 31-year-old full-back Steve Cherundolo.

City are paying through the nose for supporting cast players.

Top of the bill headliners like Messi, Kaka and Ronaldo remain as elusive as ever.