Manchester City are hopeful of concluding a Deadline Day deal for Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez.
Talks were understood to be ongoing between the clubs on Monday over the transfer fee.
Sky Sports News previously reported City, who lost 5-1 to Arsenal on Sunday, do not want to meet the midfielder's £50m release clause.
Gonzalez has been included in the Porto squad to face Rio Ave on Monday night.
Man City have already spent £130m in this transfer window, bringing in Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis.
City have been exploring their options in the market for a new No 6 with former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, one of a number of midfielders they have been looking into.
However, Gonzalez could now be on his way to the Etihad Stadium as City look to continue their January spending spree.
The 23-year-old joined Barcelona's academy in 2013 and made 27 appearances for the club before joining Porto in a deal worth €8.5m in 2023.
One element to negations is the fact Barcelona would be due 40 per cent of any fee received by Porto for the midfielder.
The Portuguese side also have the option to purchase an additional 20 at any point, reducing Barca's cut on a possible transfer to 20 per cent.
European football expert Kevin Hatchard on Sky Sports News:
"It's an absolute fit, he could do a really good job for them. Pep Guardiola has been an admirer of him for some time, City have been as well.
"He's been linked with a move to City since he was a youth player so he's a really interesting figure who has matured at Porto. He has made some forward steps there and could be a really good player."
Statman Dave speaking on Sky Sports News:
"He fits in perfectly. He came in through the Barcelona youth academy and is tall. He does remind me a little bit of Rodri, there's a likeness there in terms of his size and his command of the ball.
"Yes, there's a lot of work to do with him but you think of getting another body in defensive midfield - City need that right now. We saw how bad their rest defence was against Arsenal. How many times were they caught three-on-two?
"He's a player that can come in, play football the Guardiola way and evolve. You look at City's window - two centre-backs, one of the best attackers in Europe in Omar Marmoush and a defensive midfielder."
Sky Sports News' Ben Ransom at Man City's training ground:
"He's a player Man City really like.
"Midfield has been a problem for City this season in the absence of the injured Rodri, so Gonzalez fits the bill. He's a player City have scouted extensively.
"Gonzalez's dad, Fran, who was a player for Deportivo, has worked in City's academy and City, when Nico was 14 and 16 tried to sign him twice.
"He has now impressed at Porto in the 18 months since his move from Barcelona.
"It's the move from Barca that actually makes this move tricky because negotiations are revolving over the fee. The player has a £50m release clause and as it stands Porto want that paid in full.
"That's due in part because Barcelona have a 40 per cent sell-on clause, so that would be quite a chunk on any potential fee.
"There's also a second element to this deal where Porto can buy half of that fee from Barca for €6m. So, essentially, they can reduce that outlay to €18m IF City pay the full release clause.
"However, City are playing hardball. They don't want to meet that valuation as things stand.
"This deal is a bit of a wait-and-see. One source has told me that if City do not meet the release clause the deal would be off and that would be their transfer window over.
"But this is transfer deadline day and we know money talks. The two clubs are talking so there could still be some movement."
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