Exclusive - Dennis Tueart: Manchester City have failed to replace top stars

Dennis Tueart believes Manchester City’s recruitment policy has not been good enough for them to retain their Premier League crown.

Following a 3-1 loss to Southampton the Blues are 12 points behind leaders Manchester United in the race for the title.

Roberto Mancini brought in, among others, Javi Garcia, Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair last summer but has failed to cover for the loss of stars such as Adam Johnson and Nigel de Jong, along with Mario Balotelli, who moved to AC Milan in the January transfer window.

And Tueart claims the squad reinforcements have not been good enough.

“The recruitment strategy needs to change,” he said to the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show. “When you buy players you need to upgrade. Man City seem to have bought players to sit still or tread water. If anything, as has happened this year, they’ve dropped below the quality of last year. That [policy] needs to be looked at closely.”

But, even with a huge gap at the top of the Premier League table, Tueart believes Roberto Mancini is still the right man to turn things around at the Etihad.

“I would prefer stability over kneejerk reactions,” he added. “There has been one or two slight errors, not wholesale mistakes and infighting. They need to restructure and get back on track.”