City eye big signings for Champions League push

By Martin Petty

BANGKOK (Reuters) - English Premier League side Manchester City are planning big-name close-season signings to ensure Champions League soccer within the next two years, executive director Taweesuk Jack Srisumrid said.

City's billionaire Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra has his sights set on the Champions League and wants the world's best players to ignite the club's growth overseas, Taweesuk told Reuters.

"What we will look to do in the summer is to further boost the squad, bring in top quality, internationally-recognised players," he said in an interview.

"Superstars would help fill the stadium and help our global branding. Primarily, we must win on the pitch -- it can't be a gimmick."

One of those top names could be Barcelona's former world player of the year Ronaldinho, whom Taweesuk confirmed was a transfer target.

"We've had discussions (with Ronaldinho) but we'll see how that pans out," he said. "We've looked at a host of players.

"Man City having discussions with superstar players used to be unimaginable, but not now. With the investment, it's going forward.

"It won't be a Galacticos strategy," he said referring to the expensive transfer policy made famous by Real Madrid, "but older famous names. We want to build around the team we have."