Manchester City could storm back into the summer transfer market with a sensational offer for Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo Goes before the September 1 deadline.
Pep Guardiola opted to wrap up the majority of his transfer business in June as part of an ambitious squad rebuild at the Etihad Stadium.
Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker's exits left two big holes to fill with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki coming in - alongside the return of James Trafford in July.
Despite looking set to opt against more arrivals, Los Blancos have kept the door open on Rodrygo's possible exit, and Guardiola could now pounce.
After playing a bit-part role at the FIFA Club World Cup, the Brazil international looked set to leave Madrid, with Liverpool and Arsenal both tracking him.
However, their respective moves for Hugo Ekitike and Viktor Gyokeres - plus Liverpool's attempt to lure Alexander Isak to Anfield - meant an end to those links.
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However, a flood of City departures from City in the final weeks of the window could trigger a reaction from Guardiola, with the former Barcelona boss a long-term admirer of Real Madrid's No.11.
Can Man City sign Rodrygo?
The City-Rodrygo link is growing in strength, with reports from both the UK and Spain backing it up, and transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims Real Madrid will demand around £86m for the 24-year-old.
Alonso is open to keeping him, but the former midfielder cannot guarantee him a starting spot in his new-look lineup, with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior unmoved.
From City's perspective, Jack Grealish is closing in on a season-long loan to Everton, with Tottenham chasing a bold move for Savinho.
A double departure would free up space in Rodrygo's preferred left-sided attacking role with James McAtee also on course to leave.
The main stumbling block could be raising the majority of a Rodrygo fee from those sales, with Everton not keen on a purchase clause on Grealish at this stage, and Savinho plus McAtee combined only bringing in around £60m.
Guardiola may look to sell elsewhere in his squad, or tweak Grealish's loan terms, if Rodrygo signals his interest in a move to Manchester.
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