Redknapp: City could claim title

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes Manchester City are just two signings short of becoming a side capable of challenging for the Premier League title.

City owner Sheikh Mansour has bankrolled Mark Hughes' £80million spending-spree this summer as the City manager looks to build a side capable of bringing UEFA Champions League football to the City of Manchester Stadium.

And Redknapp warned they could be genuine title contenders, saying: "Don't write them off, they can do it. If they bring in a couple of players they could be right up there. They already have players like Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stephen Ireland who are great players."

Despite failing to land Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, Hughes has been successful in capturing Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry while Carlos Tevez has risked the wrath of Manchester United fans by making the move cross-city to Eastlands.

Hughes has also made a much-publicised attempt to capture Chelsea defender John Terry in a £40million move, although the England captain looks to have opted to remain at Stamford Bridge.

Nevertheless, Redknapp added: "If he (Hughes) gets the right players they could be real title contenders. If they make a couple of good players in the right areas then who knows."

Spurs' lack of firepower last term cost them a place in this season's Europa League with their four main strikers contributing just 25 league goals between them.

Redknapp acknowledges that City have one of the best strikeforces in country, which could be key in Hughes' side breaking the top four.

"Look at their strike force, they have players like Tevez, Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Craig Bellamy," said the former Portsmouth boss.

"You wouldn't swap that for too many other strikeforces in the league."