Officials at the Etihad Stadium are reportedly weighing up an approach for Crystal Palace and England international, Eberechi Eze this summer.
The latest transfer development comes as club bosses look to strengthen their midfield ranks this summer, with both an awareness of a lack of back-up for Rodri in defensive midfield, and a need for further creativity amid long-term doubts.
Bruno Guimaraes is understood to be Manchester City's priority player in the midfield roles, with a belief that the Brazilian has the abilities to operate alongside or solely in defensive midfield, whilst also taking on the role of a number eight.
However, with concerns over just how long the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have left in a Manchester City shirt, there remains an intrigue over strengthening their creative midfield ranks, and thus turning to another option within the Premier League.
That profile is Eberechi Eze, who is fresh off the back of a breakthrough moment in his own career having represented Gareth Southgate's England side at the recently-concluded European Championships in Germany.
According to the information of journalist Ed Aarons, Manchester City are now weighing up an approach for the Crystal Palace and England international amid growing long-term uncertainty over the future of Kevin De Bruyne.
Despite Pep Guardiola shutting down the notion of a summer exit for the Belgian midfielder this summer, the report states that City are preparing for the 33-year-old's potential departure in the not too distant future, and see Eze as a possible replacement.
Manager Guardiola is said to rate the 26-year-old highly and Manchester City also came close to bidding for Eberechi Eze last summer before turning to Wolverhampton Wanderers for Matheus Nunes is a deal worth around PS50 million.
But how much could a deal for Eze cost? Aarons reports that Eze's existing contract - which still has three years left to run - contains a release clause with a minimum fee of PS60 million, rising up to PS70 million with add-ons included.
Unsurprisingly, Manchester City are unlikely to be the only potential suitors in any race to sign Eberechi Eze, with the player having attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham this summer.
Aside from Eberechi Eze, there is also understood to be interest and admiration from within Manchester City in two of Germany's shining lights at Euro 2024 in Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala and Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz.
City could also yet surface emerging talents from within their own Academy system, with Pep Guardiola recently glowing with praise for attacking midfield prospect James McAtee, holding an intention to retain the player for the forthcoming season.