Platt sees City's increased appeal

Manchester City could now be on the radar of the world's best players, according to David Platt.

The first team coach believes they are a top target after securing a place in the Champions League and winning the FA Cup. City will overtake Arsenal and move into third place if they beat Stoke on Tuesday night and that position in the table means automatic entry to Europe's elite club competition.

Platt said: "By winning something but perhaps more importantly by securing Champions League qualification, we will hopefully become more attractive to players. These are the kind of players that give us that next step up in quality. Hopefully, we'll manage to have a successful summer in terms of attracting some targets that we've got."

City aim to kick on next season after ending a 35-year wait for a trophy and challenge Manchester United for the title. But Platt insists winning silverware year-on-year is more important than occasionally getting the better of their neighbours.

"Progression is to go and compete for the title but nobody's turning around and bragging about that at all," he said. "City have had to suffer in the shadow of a club that's been magnificent. They won the league on Saturday so you can't take anything away from them.

"We won't be on a level with them until we start winning trophies on a regular basis. But to be in and around United, to compete with them, is tremendous for us. But the end result isn't necessarily to outdo Manchester United. The end result is to win trophies."

Yaya Toure, who scored the winning goal against Stoke at Wembley, is determined to finish the season with a swagger.

City close their campaign by facing Bolton on Sunday at the Reebok Stadium and the midfielder is eager to take maximum points from both games.

"We are already in the Champions League but to finish ahead of Arsenal in third place would be fantastic," he said. "I am so happy at the moment with the way things are going and seeing how much winning a trophy means to our supporters.

"Our dressing room is a great place to be. We are all together, we all fight for the team and that is so important."