As the Premier League campaign draws near, Manchester City have now reportedly been told that a half-price offer will be enough to sign a midfield target this month.
As expected, it's been a busy summer for Manchester City on all fronts. They began with a flourish of incomings in preparation for the Club World Cup and have since taken their total to six fresh faces. Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, James Trafford, Sverre Nypan and Marcus Bettinelli have all arrived as Pep Guardiola aims to rebuild following last season's disappointment.
After missing out on the Premier League title for the first time in four seasons last time out, however, it's not just incomings that Man City have been working on this summer. The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Yan Couto have already sealed permanent departures, whilst Jack Grealish looks likely to follow suit.
The England international was left out of Guardiola's Club World Cup squad earlier this summer and has seemed destined for a departure ever since. There remain question marks over just where his next destination could be, though.
Whilst Everton have opened talks to sign Grealish, Tottenham Hotspur have also reportedly made contact and could certainly do with a creative spark following the news that James Maddison will miss the majority of the campaign through injury.
Meanwhile, as one talented midfielder potentially heads for the exit door, the Citizens have reportedly been handed the chance to land a transfer target of their own at a bargain price this month.
Man City told they can sign Paqueta in half-price deal
Following the news that he's been cleared of any spot-fixing charges, the transfer rumours regarding Lucas Paqueta's future have once again been sparked into life. According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Man City have now been told they can sign Paqueta for £45m this summer in what is around half the £85m fee that they've previously been quoted by West Ham United.
In a bargain deal, those at the Etihad have quite the decision to make. Whilst the addition of Reijnders has helped solve their midfield problem, the chance to sign a long-term target at a bargain price may well be too good to turn down.
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Now that he doesn't have potential charges hanging over him too, Paqueta may finally get back to his best following a disappointing campaign last time out. And it's at his best that the midfield star has earned impressive praise from former West Ham boss David Moyes, who described him as "incredible".
Now, amid reports that Graham Potter has opened the door for his exit, the Brazilian could finally get the big move that he was previously denied.