The agent of Jorginho has revealed the Napoli midfielder will be disappointed if he does not join Manchester City this summer.
Pep Guardiola has identified Jorginho as a top transfer target this summer but City are struggling to agree a fee with their Italian counterparts.
City have already had a £44m bid rejected for the Italy international and are not willing to match Napoli’s reported £60m valuation.
The Premier League champions are now threatening to pull out of a deal for Jorginho, instead turning their attentions to Jean Seri and Mateo Kovacic.
It remains to be seen whether City are using other targets as leverage in talks with Napoli, but Jorginho’s agent, Joao Santos, is hopeful a deal can still be done.
“We are talking about a guy whom Manchester City represents the opportunity of a lifetime,” The Daily Mirror quote Santos as saying.
“He wouldn’t be sad if he stayed in Naples. Indeed, he’s happy and well in Naples.
“He would be unhappy, eventually, though because he would lose a great opportunity like Manchester City.
“My feelings about the deal? Anything can happen. It’s still all open.”
Jorginho has developed into one of the best midfielders in Europe in the last two years and his arrival would enhance City’s options next season.
City romped to the league title last season and will bid to become the first side to defend the Premier League crown since Manchester United in 2009.
Jorginho averaged more passes per game than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues last season (96.9).