Manchester City have reportedly had their opening £45m offer for Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele knocked back by the French club.
The Citizens are said to have recently pushed ahead with a formal bid for the 22-year-old, who impressed in both Champions League group matches between the two sides earlier this season.
With boss Pep Guardiola on the lookout for a new holding midfielder to provide competition for Fernandinho, The Times reports that City were keen to get a deal wrapped up for Ndombele in January.
Lyon are said to be holding out for at least £75m, however, meaning that Guardiola may be forced to look elsewhere, having already given up on signing Frenkie de Jong from Ajax.
Houssem Aouar, a teammate for Ndombele's at the Groupama Stadium, is also thought to be a target for the Premier League champions, with his price tag believed to be in the region of £54m.
Ndombele has played in 22 of Lyon's 26 Ligue 1 and Champions League matches in the first half of 2018-19.
Daniel Lewis
