Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has ruled out the possibility of continued lavish spending in the January transfer window, and claims he is satisfied by the way his squad is gelling.

Hughes, who was speaking ahead of his side's trip to Wigan on Sunday, stated that his squad had so far answered critics who doubted such a quickly and expensively assembled group of players would play as an effective unit.

City remain in the top four with a game in hand on many other teams, having lost just once in the league to rivals Manchester United, and while Hughes is not getting carried away, he remains satisfied with how he side have started.

"People were suggesting the gelling of the team might be a difficulty for us but it is plainly obvious we have addressed that," he told reporters at a press conference.

"The team has come together very quickly - they are good players. It is easier for good players to have an understanding of what is required.

"We are very comfortable with how the season has started. It is only a positive start, that's all. It is a platform for us to go forward."

The former Wales boss added that, contrary to recent reports, he is now largely contented with his squad, and is unlikely to spend big in January, although he did not rule out the possibility of strengthening his side in targeted areas.

"What people must understand is that our business in the last window was unprecedented. That will not happen again.

"This notion that we will throw money at whatever player, that is not the case. We do not feel we need to go into the market to the extent we did in the last two windows.

"It's about looking at players for areas of the team that still need strengthening," he concluded.

One of these areas is believed to be full-back, after reports surfaced that the club is desperately competing with neighbours United for the signature of Inter Milan's buccaneering Brazilian right-back Maicon.