If we know that, then other clubs will know that too. I'm sure Pep doesn't want his signings early if it means being gouged on the price.
Several teams playing hard ball right now. Monaco, for example, are desperate to hold on to as many players from their title-winning side as possible while the vultures circle ominously. Rather than giving in to demands here, patience from City and continued pressure from the player for the move will ultimately pay off.
I do think two signings by Tuesday was always going to be a tough ask. The European transfer window isn't open yet we have two in the door already. The alacrity of those signings made many believe we'd be done and dusted within a few weeks, but Levy was never going to be as easy an individual to deal with as Vieira and, ultimately, two players from Monaco is a tall order. Most important thing is to get them in. Mendy, Bertrand, Walker, Sanchez, whoever Pep identifies as being key to his squad. Sooner would be better, but sometimes perfect is the enemy of good.
Pep won't care about the prices paid, he just wants the players in and getting coached under him ASAP.
Also the international transfer window is open. The English & French windows both opened last week, and considering our targets are Walker, Bertrand, Sanchez & Mendy, those are the only ones who matter.
I think you have the wrong impression of Monaco as well, they don't care about selling, they care about getting the most out of their players before moving them on for the highest fee. That's the business model.
Things will happen when they happen. There's lots of stuff on the other end of a transfer which we can't influence, we just have to wait for things like Spurs to know they have a Walker replacement.