If we give them a reasonable (market value) fee, and chuck in a kid who needs the experience, we would not be neutering them, it's mutual trade, just like any transfer between two clubs - it's not like they have to do what we say, they are to an extent independent, and they could reject an offer if they feel it's not in their best interest. The only deal that CFG has created for them is the David Villa loan and that really did no harm, even if he didn't have an amazing impact...
Actually, the David Villa move did them a lot of harm. Melbourne City based all of their marketing around him and got their biggest ever crowds with him then after only 4 games NYCFC recalled him for no other reason than a few photo opportunities. Overnight their crowds fell by 50% - to a lower level than they were at before the takeover, even - and led to some serious backlash against CFG.
Even this season, when they were breaking scoring records left, right and centre, they were struggling to pull the same small crowds they were getting three years ago when they were firmly bottom of the table. Villa really harmed their image in Melbourne and their fans hate him with the same passion that NYCFC fans hate Lampard.