Mark Hughes has told Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o now is the right time to join big-spending Manchester City.

"He is a world star and a European Cup winner, the type that scores you 23 goals a season," said Hughes.

"With those types of player you know exactly what you will get - quality, a winner's mentality and someone who will get people out of their seats.

"My feeling is that it is the right time for him to help us in our ambitions. There is an old adage in football that you stand or fall by your strikers.

"There are times in games when things aren't going particularly well when you need somebody with the ability to win games on their own.

"All the top clubs have them. If we can add players who can do it to the ones we already have, it gives us a better chance."