New City owners thinking large scale

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Provided their new owners from Abu Dhabi back up their statements with hard cash, there appears little to prevent City muscling into England's big four and beyond that, into Europe.

Referring to a bid for Ronaldo, Cook told Century FM: "Never say never in this game. It changes on a daily basis. Just two years ago this club was looking at a very different type of player. Now nothing is going to stop us."

He added: "When you are moving the club forward you stop at nothing to get some of the best players.

"It's very competitive, but you have to rely on the manager's judgement and the player's desire to play for the club."

The United Group for Development and Investment are still in the process of completing their takeover of the Eastlands outfit.

But already thoughts are turning to January and the players that will be brought to the club.

It has been suggested they offered Real Madrid a blank cheque to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy on transfer-deadline day, as well as trying to hijack Dimitar Berbatov's move to Old Trafford.

Neither deal came off, but the oil men from the Middle East are serious players, with City set to reap the reward.

"When it comes to ambition you have to think large scale," said Cook. "We are only into the memorandum of understanding with these people, but they are talking big. They have been very vocal about their ambitions for the club."