Man City get Allan transfer warning from Palmeiras boss - 'I know'

Allan has a €100m release clause but City are hoping to complete a deal for less than half of that fee, having been encouraged that Palmeiras will be receptive to a deal. The winger played for the Brazilian club on Sunday evening against Vasco da Gama though and coach Abel Ferreira spoke afterwards about the value in the player the Blues are trying to sign.

"These teams want a player like Allan because 90 per cent of wingers don't do what he does, which is attack and defend. They're going to have to pay. I know how Manchester City plays," he said. "At Chelsea, there's a player named Pedro Neto: if they want to go after him, they're going to have to pay 100 million euros.

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To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

"Top teams don't buy half a player, they buy players who attack and defend. When one comes along who can track back the entire time, play as a right-back - as was the case against Miami - slot into a back three out wide and drift inside for rotations, as happened today with [Agustin] Giay, everyone wants that kind of player. But you have to educate them, develop them and, if necessary, lose a few games along the way."

Meanwhile, City have agreed a fee for Ayyoub Bouaddi with Lille to bolster their midfield. The total package is worth £85m (€100m) as City have ultimately paid what the French club wanted from the start in order to bring in another key signing.

Elliot Anderson is already through the door for a club record £116m and started the 2-1 win over Bournemouth, but his partner in midfield for the game was centre-back Marc Guehi as coach Enzo Maresca searches for the right combination with Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders gone and Nico Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic unfancied.