United neighbor ready to make some big noise

LONDON - Sir Alex Ferguson may have famously dismissed Manchester City as "noisy neighbor" but the veteran United manager may well find himself reaching for a pair of earplugs by the end of this season.

After ending its 36-year wait for a trophy last season with victory in the FA Cup, Manchester City and Roberto Mancini are aiming their sights higher as they prepare for an assault on the Premier League and Champions League.

With seemingly limitless transfer funds at his disposal, Mancini has strengthened an already powerful squad with the close-season signings of Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic, and more could follow.