Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is refusing to predict where he expects the club to finish next season.
With Gareth Barry already signed and a host of additional new faces set to arrive at Eastlands this summer, these are exciting times for City fans.
Supporters are eagerly awaiting confirmation of the new Barclays Premier League fixtures next Wednesday, believing next season could be one to remember.
Yet, City chairman Khaldoon-al-Mubarak has merely declared a desire to break into the top six. And Hughes is not even prepared to go that far.
Mindful of football's vagaries and how often misfortune can deal an unexpected blow, he just wants to be challenging the club's best Premier League finish of eighth before kicking on during the final weeks of the campaign.
more successful
"We are looking at realistic targets," said Hughes.
"We are not going to box ourselves in and say we will definitely do something because football is a fickle sport and things can come crashing down.
"But if we get the players we are looking to get in this window, the ambition will be to be more successful than this club has ever been in the Premier League.
"If we can achieve that, towards the end of the season there may be opportunities to kick on."
After former Villa man Barry's arrival was confirmed in the early stages of the close season, Hughes is hoping to add some more new names to his team sheet in the not too distant future.
"It is fair to say we are looking to address some areas of the team," said Hughes.
"Getting players in early was part of our plan and we are quite happy at how the window is developing."
