Roque Santa Cruz believes his new club Manchester City have the ability to break into the Premier League's top-four. Following the arrival of Gareth Barry for €14million last month, Santa Cruz became City's second major close-season signing on Monday - when he completed a €20million switch from Blackburn, on a reported five-year deal.

There is the promise of much more to come, with Carlos Tevez and Samuel Eto'o among the other big names being linked with the cash-rich Eastlands outfit.

"The owners want the club to be more successful - they want to break into the top four," Santa Cruz told www.mcfc.co.uk. "I spoke to the chairman and I know his ambitions are known to everybody at the club - he made sure that I know as well."

Chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak has given manager Mark Hughes the target of a top-six place to achieve.

However, given the money already invested in the Blues, it would be little surprise to see those aims lifted a touch.

Ironically, Santa Cruz could make his debut at Blackburn on the opening day of the new season - when a repeat of last term's ninth-place finish will not be tolerated.

"Everybody expects a lot - and the fact the club is signing big players, great players, shows we want to be as good as possible," he added.

"Everybody is talking about breaking the top four so once we get there, we need to keep looking forward and see what is the best we can get."

After being heavily linked with a move to City during the past two transfer windows, Santa Cruz is relieved not to suffer another disappointment and get the chance to work once more with Hughes - the man who brought him to England from Bayern Munich two years ago.

"I know the kind of football Mark Hughes wants to play and the kind of character he is - he's a winner; he wants to make things happen and be successful," said Santa Cruz.

"Those are always my thoughts as well - so knowing what he wants was a big factor in coming here, because I know the club is going in the right direction."

City fans will be hoping to see Santa Cruz in the form he showed during that first year in England.

The Paraguay forward, set for his third World Cup campaign next summer, scored 23 goals in 43 appearances - compared with just four in the Premier League last season, when he was badly affected by knee problems.

At one point those fitness concerns looked set to see Hughes turn his attentions elsewhere in his search for a front man capable of bringing the best out of Stephen Ireland, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Robinho - who continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona.

"It was really important that we signed him because it's an area of the squad that we have needed to address for some time," Hughes told www.mcfc.co.uk.

"The qualities Roque brings will be of great benefit.

"His ability in the air and his physical presence are things we have been missing. But he also has technical ability and good pace for a big man."