Hughes will wait for the right deal

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City were among the first clubs to enter the transfer market this summer when they swooped to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, and Hughes has since completed deals to bring forwards Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Roque Santa Cruz to the club. But Hughes' attempts to improve the City defence have so far been met with frustration as Chelsea insist John Terry is not for sale and Everton have rejected an opening offer for Joleon Lescott.

While Hughes admits he wants deals done as soon as possible, he said: "At the beginning of the season, we wanted all the players in the building to start training, but we are prepared to wait. It is all about giving the deal the opportunity to develop."

He added: "We want to strengthen our defence but we will concentrate on what we are doing here (in South Africa) first."

City's pursuit of Terry - a move which once again demonstrates the huge ambition of the Eastlands club - is being played out in public, and that is to the frustration of Hughes who has rejected the notion that City are in any way guilty of tapping up the England captain.

"We made a bid for John but we tried to keep it under the radar," Hughes said.

"Chelsea allowed the bid to enter the public domain and ever since I have been answering questions on the matter.

"There was no issue that needed to be raised."