The argument about fees is such utter bilge. You can state that that 5-10m can be used for x, y, z in the exact same way you can state that Gvardiol or whatever player would be the lynchpin in a dominant CL side that creates x amount of consistent additional revenue. It's a pointless argument.
City have valuations of players they won't go above. Most selling clubs have valuations of their players they won't go below unless they are in a desperate situation. If those figures aren't congruent then nothing will happen, other than City will walk away. If City do walk away, then it doesn't signal anything to other future selling clubs - they will have valuations of their players regardless of whichever club is interested because it's mainly made on whole market value. It's a fine strategy and makes sense not to pay more than you think a player is worth but it really doesn't have the massive impact people assume it does. City walking away from Cucurella had 0 impact on the price West Ham wanted for Rice.
City have valuations of players they won't go above. Most selling clubs have valuations of their players they won't go below unless they are in a desperate situation. If those figures aren't congruent then nothing will happen, other than City will walk away. If City do walk away, then it doesn't signal anything to other future selling clubs - they will have valuations of their players regardless of whichever club is interested because it's mainly made on whole market value. It's a fine strategy and makes sense not to pay more than you think a player is worth but it really doesn't have the massive impact people assume it does. City walking away from Cucurella had 0 impact on the price West Ham wanted for Rice.