Mancini should relax over no new arrivals

Manchester City should not be regarded as favourites to retain their Premier League title, according to their clearly agitated boss Roberto Mancini, who is becoming increasingly frustrated at a summer of inactivity in the transfer market at Eastlands.

But is the Italian right to declare that other clubs are in a better position to take their crown? Or is he cleverly playing down City's chances before a ball has even been kicked?

For the past few years, City have been THE big summer spenders in the top flight, bringing in a raft of players - with varying degrees of success - to boost their squad. There can be no argument that the likes of Yaya Toure,  Sergio Aguero and David Silva were all key buys who contributed plenty to last season's title glory but the less said about the previous millions shelled out on such players as Roque Santa Cruz and Wayne Bridge in past years the better.

However, so far this summer it has been a different story with, as yet, no major big summer purchases winding their way to the Etihad – despite the latest odds putting them favourites to retain their title.

Some will argue, probably rightly, that a club that has spent well over £400m since they were taken over in 2008 by the Abu Dhabi Group with seemingly bottomless pockets, should not have to shell out more every year to improve a highly-paid, expensively-assembled squad that their rivals can only dream of.

Mancini has seen Chelsea lavish their millions once again with a string of high-profile purchases, most notably being Brazilianstarlet Oscar and Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard, while Arsenal, too, have made significant buys.

Manchester United, who were City's closest challengers last term, have been prudent and Sir Alex Ferguson is probably also frustrated with his summer dealings so far, adding just Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell to his ranks, after missing out on top target Lucas Moura to Paris Saint-Germain - a club attempting to match City in the spending stakes following their lucrative takeover.

But City, strangely, have yet to splash the cash and Mancini is concerned they could drop behind the others in the race for the title, with most premier league predictions predicting a three-way fight for the title this year.

Whether he is right to think that, though, is another matter because the champions should still have enough talent at their disposal to retain the crown they won so thrillingly on the final day of last season without any additions at all.