Last season - 5th
After splashing out on the likes of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure last summer, City were widely regarded as serious challengers for the league title.
They started well, winning six of their opening seven games with an unfortunate 4-3 defeat to Manchester United proving to be their only loss until a 3-0 hammering away at Tottenham in December.
- Premier League News / Transfer Centre / Premier League Fixtures
That result, coupled with a record run of seven consecutive draws had seen City slip slightly away from fourth place and Champions League football. The board responded by sacking manager Mark Hughes and replacing him with former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini.
Mancini kept his new club in the hunt for fourth place until the penultimate game of the season, where they were beaten 1-0 at home by Spurs.
They still managed to secure Europa League football, with Carlos Tevez proving to be the stand-out player for the vast majority of the season.
In Yaya Toure (Barcelona, £28m), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg, £10m), David Silva (Valencia, £24m), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio, £17m), Alex Henshall (Swindon Town, free), Albert Rusnak (MFK Kosice, undisclosed)
Out Valeri Bojinov (Parma, £4.5m), Martin Petrov (Bolton, free), Benjani (released), Sylvinho (released), Robert Mak (Nuremberg, £500,000), Gunnar Nielsen (Tranmere, loan), Javier Garrido (Lazio, £2.5m)
Player to watch David Silva
Signed this summer from Valencia for £24 million, David Silva should provide City fans with a real treat this season.
Blessed with pace, skill and a great touch, the Spanish international will provide a world class attacking threat for his new side.
His ability to play on both wings and just behind the strikers will give Mancini plenty of options.
Football.co.uk verdict
Next season is the definition of a 'make-or-break' season for Manchester City.
Break into that elsuive top four and they could well go on to become a superpower in world football. Miss out on it again and everyone in the game will start to doubt them and their methods.
Mancini has spent a lot of money so far this summer and that doesn't look like stopping, with James Milner and Mario Balotelli close to signing.
If those two do arrive at Eastlands then City will put together a genuine title challenge over the next ten months.
Prediction - 1st
Source: DSG
