Man City still haven't given up on signing Fernando Torres, says Mancini

Roberto Mancini has accused Manchester City's Premier League rivals of running scared of the mega-rich club.

City are set to take their summer spending through the £100million barrier with the capture of Aston Villa's James Milner and boss Mancini believes his rivals are jealous of his club's financial might.

With the money they have spent, Pemier League managers and players believe the minimum City must achieve this season is a top-four finish, if not winning the title, but Mancini claimed they are piling on the pressure because they are frightened.

And in a further example of City's willingness to keep on spending to win the title, Mancini said he has not given up signing £50m-rated Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres this summer, despite competition from Chelsea.

Asked if the Premier League's big clubs were scared of what City can achieve, Mancini said: "I think so. At the moment, only Manchester City are in the market place buying players. But that's normal because we want to improve.

"I think all the other teams are saying these things about us because, for 10 years, there were only four teams challenging for title. This season there will be five. Over the years, all these teams have spent a lot of money. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham.

"They have done in the past what we are doing now, so for me there isn't a difference."

Although Torres has yet to make a decision on his Liverpool future, with Chelsea the favourites to sign him should he decide to leave Anfield, Mancini says he is desperate to bring the World Cup winner to City.

"There are two or three strikers that we could go for," said Mancini. "But it's the same situation as it is with Milner. First there is the price, then it depends if the player wants to change teams. Up until now, Liverpool haven't bought many players.

"The choices that we have are between four or five fantastic players. Torres is one of the best strikers in Europe and has been playing in the Premier League for three years now, so he knows it very well. But it all depends on his situation, his price and whether he wants to come."

Mancini confirmed he will be offloading several players - Craig Bellamy and Robinho the most high-profile - in order to trim his squad to the limit of 25 names as stipulated by the Premier League for the new season.

And Mancini admitted it was vital to move disillusioned players on elsewhere to preserve harmony within City's squad. "It's important we start the season with only 25 players because that's the number of names we can put on the list," said Mancini.

"It's better for me and the other players who are not on the list that they go to another team. Robinho doesn't want to come back, but Craig is working very well. I have now, with all the new signings, 30 players. So it's better for the extra ones that they go, rather than staying and not playing. That would be a big problem for the players and the club."