Hughes can't just say 'yeah we are in for x, y, z and I'm confident we'll get them' because if we don't get the players then the first thing SSN will do is run a massive story on how X SNUBS CITY. Christ, they were saying Eto'o had SNUBBED us before we'd even fucking bid for him.
Feel a bit harsh on Everton, though. They have a manager who buys low, develops players and a team that finishes 5th two years in a row, and then when one or more of the players looks good enough to be a top 4 player a richer club just comes in and offers him a massive wage. What's the betting that Jagielka, at some point in the next couple of seasons, ends up at Arsenal, Chelsea, maybe even City.