Redknapp backs Manchester City title hopes

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.

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 believes that Hughes requires just two more key players to make City real title contenders.

"Don't write them off, they can do it," Redknapp said.

"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."

"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."

Redknapp sees a similarity between the way City have conducted their summer transfer spending with that of Blackburn, who spent big to attract the players good enough to win the title in 1995.

He also draws comparisons with Chelsea, who have won the title twice since being bought by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

"Chelsea did it and so did Blackburn when they brought in players like (Chris) Sutton, (Alan) Shearer and (Tim Flowers). They built a team to win the championship," Redknapp added.