Manuel Pellegrini believes it will be important for Manchester City to bring in a big name or two in the summer as they face up to the loss of their Premier League crown.

The Citizens are nine points adrift of league leaders Chelsea and down in fourth place in the table ahead of their trip to Crystal Palace, with head coach Pellegrini under pressure to deliver a strong finish to the campaign.

The Chilean is aware of the need to do better and insists that a major signing in the next few months is vital to keep pace with the rest of the European elite.

He said: “Well, it is just 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.

“I’m not just talking about Manchester City. You see Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich – all the big clubs – they all do it. It is important to have big names.

“(But) I don’t want to talk about 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.”

City’s major signings before the start of the current campaign were Fernando, Bacary Sagna and Eliaquim Mangala and none of them can be said to have been a complete success.

And the need for fresh faces was heightened by another Champions League disappointment, with City having been beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Barcelona in the last 16 of the competition.

Meanwhile, City are 19.00 to retain the Premier League title, with current leaders Chelsea 1.04.