Sven-Goran Eriksson is ready to splash the cash in an effort to bridge the gap between Manchester City and England's 'big four'.

Although City added a home draw with Liverpool to a win over Manchester United and a creditable defeat at Arsenal when they held Rafael Benitez's men at Eastlands, Eriksson still believes he needs to improve his squad.

Mexico forward Nery Castillo has already joined on a 12-month loan but further signings are planned as Eriksson looks to build on a hugely-impressive first half of the campaign.

And, after bringing in eight, mostly unknown, foreign players during his initial spending spree last summer, this time the City manager is channelling his resources towards a more limited number of targets.

"The players we are discussing are big ones, who could cost a lot of money," Eriksson told the club's official website.

"We are talking to agents and we are trying in this country as well as abroad.

"I think something else will happen in January and we will be having meetings over the next few days.

"But it is difficult because we are working and the rest of Europe is on holiday, so it is hard to talk to people right now."

Liverpool's Peter Crouch, who missed Sunday's stalemate through suspension, has long been considered a potential target for Eriksson and it is no surprise the forward's name has cropped up again.

However, senior City sources have indicated the chances of moving for Crouch are 'slim'. And while Dimitar Berbatov is exactly the kind of player Eriksson would love, it appears unlikely the Bulgarian's agent is thinking of the blue half of Manchester when he says the striker is looking for a club who would match his own ambitions, it may not be too long before that is the case.

The huge strides City have made under Eriksson are proved by a couple of facts, namely 36 points represents their highest pre-New Year's Day total since the Premier League began while their present position of fifth is the loftiest they have found themselves in at the turn of the year.

In addition, aided by some sympathetic segregation arrangements from Greater Manchester Police, City were also able to post their highest attendance on Sunday since the move to Eastlands from Maine Road in 2003.

Indeed, the figure of 47,321 was City's biggest home crowd of any description since the visit of Manchester United in October 1985.

So, with new owner Thaksin Shinawatra declaring himself 'pleased' at the progress that has been made, Eriksson may raise a few eyebrows when he declares his targets for the season, as he has pledged to do once the New Year has been chimed in.

Although top six would appear to represent the most realistic aim, an outstanding achievement in itself given the woeful state City found themselves in at the end of last season, the longer Eriksson's fifth-placed team can remain on the coat-tails of Liverpool in particular, the more convinced some Blues fans will become that a place in the Champions League can be grasped.

"I don't know if it is possible for us to finish in the top four," said Eriksson.

"We will fight but we will not be the favourites. The favourites will be the big ones, that is for sure.

"It is a big target but it would also be very nice to make it a big five.

"I know the fifth position has no Champions League place but just to be close to the other four of them is very good."