Where are you living? We didn't get Mazraoui and he actually already completed part of his medical with Bayern just a few days ago. And FDJ isn't going anywhere. Not even in a swap deal, not only because I believe Xavi is not contemplating selling De Jong, but also from City, simply because don't think Pep is ready to let go of Bernardo Silva, especially now after all the work he's done in the last year or so to finally make him a truly world class CM and hardly replaceable, at least in the biggest matches (he played RW and even CF for City in the past a lot as well, and also played sporadically because of it, cause one, he wasn't truly world class there, just good with flashes of world class, and two, they have the most depth in the forward positions, so Pep rotates there the most).
And as KDB is slowly, but surely winding down, since he's 30 now, I believe that Bernardo is considered by Pep to be that next perfect '8' to replace KDB, once he leaves. Frenkie can't and never will be that, so it makes no sense for Pep to be doing that swap, especially since KDB and Silva can co-exist for now, and are also very good even when playing together, and be that much better for it, until KDB goes. After that, Bernardo is gonna take on that advance midfield role and make it his own, and someone else will come in and play the #6 more stationary CM role then. Actually for that, Frenkie would then be the perfect fit, but City doesn't have anyone to bargain with, not to mention they don't need Frenkie yet anyway, as long as KDB is at a high level, so Bernardo plays that #6 role for now. Maybe they'll come in with a big money offer in a few years after KDB goes, if FDJ doesn't work out for us completely and if Pep still wants him by then.
And since you made such a big point about staying ultra realistic about our budget troubles, you really think we're gonna go and sign Sosa, a foreigner from a relegation threatened Bundesliga club for 25M? I don't think so. If we're signing anyone for that price, it's Grimaldo (Spanish, Catalan, La Masia tax, which seems to sadly be a real thing with Xavi), and even there I imagine we'll try to include Trincao in a swap deal to get the price down, especially since Benfica is apparently interested in him. The only other realistic option for LB I see is, if Alemany can get his way and cook something up (and if he doesn't extend before the summer) and if Valencia will be desperate enough to sell, then we'll get Gaya for 15-20M.
And I do think it's either gonna be Gaya (Alemany's choice) or Grimaldo (Xavi's choice). They are the only realistic options we can expect us to sign, and pay no more than 15-20M of actual money for either of them. Anything more, we'll try and reduce that price with swap deals. As I already mentioned, Trincao for Grimaldo, as for Gaya, I'm thinking Mingueza could be the one, since Valencia have showed some interest in him in January. If not him, then maybe even Riqui Puig, if he'll accept to go.
