Manchester City targeted Lucas Paqueta in the summer transfer window before cooling their interest.
As far as come-and-get-me pleas go, they don't get much more blatant then giving the manager you want to play for a big old hug before playing against his team.
Josko Gvardiol was the top target and once he was signed attention returned to bolstering the forward options. A right winger appeared the obvious necessity, given the missing goals with Mahrez' departure and Phil Foden's apparent destiny to finally play a central role. When you consider West Ham wanted a significant profit on the club-record fee of £55m they spent a year ago, the deal didn't make much sense. As it transpired, it didn't come to pass.
There's no saying when the investigation will be completed and if it remains without a conclusion when next summer rolls around, it's hard to see City taking the risk on signing a player who could potentially be banned at any moment. But it's not the only reason. "We had doubts because he came from Bolivia with the jet lag, he was so tired the day before yesterday," said Guardiola. "He felt better and we spoke with him last night and he said he felt good.
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