Cape Town - Bundesliga club Wolfsburg have attempted to play down talk that Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne could be headed for the exit.
Wolfsburg have told all interested clubs that they do not need the money, according to The Mirror.
Despite spending £49 million on bringing Raheem Sterling to the club this summer, City manager Manuel Pellegrini is not giving up on landing the £50million-rated midfielder.
The Premier League giants have their work cut on securing a deal after the German club again reiterated their stance that they would not be parting with De Bruyne this summer.
“We are not a selling club, we don’t need the money." said Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allof.
“And in the project of Wolfsburg we want to compete one day with Bayern Munich and you need these kind of players."
Allof provided Pellegrini with a glimmer of hope by saying that the club would be considering the player's needs in any transfer decision.
“But on the other hand we have to handle it seriously and respect the interests of the player and on the other side he has to respect the interests of the club." added Allof.
The Citizens have also recruited Patrick Roberts and Fabian Delph this summer.
City open their Premier League campaign on Monday, August 10 away to West Bromwich Albion.
The match kicks off at The Hawthorns at 21:00.