Manchester City are reportedly withdrawing from their pursuit of signing Argentinian youngster Thago Almada after seeing their latest bid rejected.
City have been linked with the 18-year-old winger from Velez Sarsfield, dubbed the 'new Lionel Messi', with Portugese side Sporting reported to take him on a two-year loan deal.
But now Ole say City have had a €12m bid rejected, and are therefore giving up on negotiations.
The report quotes an unnamed City official as saying: "A very good offer for a player who will be free in less than a year.
“We’re withdrawing. We weren’t going to pay the clause when the player has less than one year left to go free.”
The report adds that Velez will now look to tie Almada down to a new contract, which would see his release clause rise to €25m.
Meanwhile, reports say City made an enquiry for Barcelona's Nelson Semedo last week after negotiations to sign Joao Cancelo from Juventus stalled.
City have been linked with Cancelo all summer, but no deal has so far materialised.
It is claimed by Spanish outlet Sport that Barcelona have no intention of selling Semedo - who they view as their first choice right-back - and simply referred City to the €100million buy-out clause in Semedo’s deal.
