City made some astute January signings, but it was the Belgian’s ability to dramatically improve the squad he inherited that fuelled a 2026 surge to a top 10 Championship finish.
The City head coach feels the key to a promotion push next season hinges on vital additions.
“We need investment also to make the next steps,” he said. “You cannot only say, ‘Okay, we’re going to need to continue working to make these players better. We need to get also extra quality to help that process.
“The good thing is that the owner sees it as a long term project and not like it’s all about now, or it’s finished. You can build up things along the way.
“We have big ambitions also, to push towards Ben (Knapper) and the recruitment team, to get the right players in.
“It’s going to be important in these holidays to look at players, to speak with them, to be in touch with everybody in the club, that we can do the best things as possible with the budget we have.
“I’m really hungry for next season, to make it better, to develop the players again together with my staff, and to get a few extra players to raise also certain qualities that we lacked. Then we will see how strong opponents are, because that we don’t know.
“We don’t know yet full the story who’s going to drop from the Premier League. We don’t know how much investment other teams in the league will make, so we will see.”
Clement is equally clear on any approaches for his top talent this summer.
“You don’t totally control all of that. I didn’t expect Josh (Sargent) to leave, but he left in the end,” he said. “Of course, if there are players who want to go, they can only go for a price that’s above the market price, and when you’re sure that you can replace them cheaper and better.
“That needs to be the thing with the ambition this club has to evolve and to become better.
“It’s about us trying to get the maximum out of the quality that’s in the squad, and to keep on working, and to keep this unity in the dressing room and in the building.
“I need to thank all my staff for the way they stepped into my story, and the way they supported me, and also the fans.
“That’s the big challenge for next season, to show this unity again, and then you see how amazing things can be.”