Bringing in an elite number nine has been top of Manchester City's priorities for months now but, with only one week to go until the transfer window closes, the Premier League champions are yet to make good on their intention of signing Harry Kane.
However, if what Pep Guardiola said following his side's 5-0 thrashing of Norwich City on Saturday is anything to go by, then City's striker of the future could already be in the building.
" Liam Delap is going to train with us if a striker comes or doesn't come. He's going to train with us all season", he said. In other words, the EDS phenomenon won't be leaving the club on loan any time soon.
At first glance, that might seem a rather predictable and bland statement. Delap is a hot prospect, so naturally City want to get him integrated into the first team set up.
Some might see the decision as a mistake on City's part. Surely, what an 18-year-old attacker needs under his belt is minutes on the pitch, not the bench or in the stands?
It's a valid point but, when you take a look at the fates of many highly-regarded City youngsters of recent years, it becomes clear that not going out on loan is a very good sign indeed.
Such is the cut-throat way in which City operate their youth development, when a player goes out on loan, chances are they will never play for the first team.
Many clubs use loan spells to give fledgling players professional experience, to toughen them up and broaden their footballing education.
At City, though, it's a different story.
The City Football Academy is one of the best facilities in the world for producing star talent, but it would be naïve to think that the Blues can just fill their first team entirely with home-grown products.
To compete at the very top of the game, City have to cast their net far and wide for talent, but to do this requires financial income. Not all of City's academy graduates might be good enough to break into Guardiola's plans, but they can certainly command hefty fees in the transfer market.
Therefore, most of the time, loans are used to boost transfer values and attract potential buyers - almost like a company paying for a billboard at a road junction.
The cases of Angelino, Lukas Nmecha, Aleix Garcia, Manu Garcia and Tosin Adarabioyo are great examples. All showed promise in and around the first team, but once loaned out they didn't return to the Etihad.
It's worth pointing out that Oleksandr Zinchenko is the exception to this rule. The Ukrainian had a disastrous loan spell at PSV shortly after arriving at City, but forced his way into the first team picture as an unlikely left-back on his return.
By and large, when it comes to players that City truly believe have what it takes to make the first team, spending a season training alongside the squad and getting up to speed with the demands of Guardiola football is far more useful than going to a club in the Championship.
Phil Foden is a prime example. A host of clubs would have been delighted to take him off City's hands, but Guardiola preferred to keep him close. Now he is the most exciting English youngster around.
Of course, Delap is no Foden and there's no telling if City's faith in last season's Premier League 2 top goalscorer will be rewarded.
However, with the Kane deal looking increasingly difficult and Guardiola himself admitting that City's performances - at least until Saturday's thrashing of Norwich - have lacked goals, now seems the perfect opportunity for him to break into the first team.
Staying in Manchester could pay off big time for Delap.
Will Liam Delap go on to become a regular in Pep's City side? Follow our new City Fan Brands Writer Alex Brotherton on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section here.
