Vincent Kompany has claimed that Manchester City's summer signings were necessary in order to replace those players who left the club in the transfer window.
The Premier League champions spent nearly £60m to add Eliaquim Mangala, Fernando, Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna and Frank Lampard to their first-term squad.
Former Porto duo Mangala and Fernando cost £32m and £12m respectively, but Kompany has insisted that reinforcements in defence and midfield were needed to compensate for the departures of Joleon Lescott and Javi Garcia.
Kompany told reporters: "The summer reinforcements? People should see that as logical for a team like us, to get reinforcements every year.
"We are forced to. That is a fact. Joleon Lescott is leaving? We must get reinforcements for that position. Javi Garcia is leaving us? We have to add a player in that position."
City manager Manuel Pellegrini has stressed that Mangala must fight for his place in the City defence.