Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has revealed the club would need high profile reinforcement to the squad during the coming summer transfer window ahead of next season.

The Citizens have endured what would be a trophy-less season, losing to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League last 16 for a second successive season while lying nine points behind Chelsea in the Premier League.

“It is the way of thinking that big teams need to sign a big player. It is very difficult to do it every year, but every two years you must do it,” said Pellegrini.

Man. City spent £30m to bring in Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony from Swansea City in January, though a signing of the Sergio Agüero or Yaya Toure calibre has not been made by the club for a while.

While not exactly world class, City have been linked with a move for 20-year old England starlet Raheem Sterling who has stalled on contract talks with Liverpool despite being out of contract at the end of this season.

Pellegrini added, “I don’t want to talk about plans for next season because we have to finish this season. It is very important the way we finish this season before we analyse all the players. So it is not the right moment to talk about it.”

The champions visit in-form Crystal Palace on Monday night, looking to return to second spot on the table after watching close rivals Arsenal and Manchester United go past them on the table with respective wins on Saturday.