Paul Merson and Tim Sherwood have suggested that signing FC Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez is a risk for Manchester City after an £49million (€60m) agreement was struck between the clubs.

The Manchester Evening News understands Manchester City are interested in signing Gonzalez but are baulking at paying his reported £60million release clause. Porto have so far stood firm on their demands, informing the Blues they would only allow the midfielder to leave if his release clause is triggered.

A mixture of poor form, upcoming fixtures and Sunday's defeat to Arsenal have meant that City could look to bring Gonzalez in before the transfer window closes. The clock is ticking for City to complete the move for the 23-year-old though, with the transfer window slamming shut at 11pm.

READ MORE: Man City transfer twist as fresh update emerges on midfielder's exit

READ MORE: Man City transfer stance on Nico O'Reilly after Chelsea approach

And Arsenal icon Merson has sent a warning to City ahead of the deal being finalised - with the Sky Sports pundit sharing his belief that Gonzalez will be dropped as soon as Rodri returns from his ACL injury.

"I've not seen this lad play so don't know too much about him. But they need players in midfield. A lot of people say it's not just Rodri. It is just Rodri. Rodri sees danger, Rodri is disciplined, Rodri stays in the centre, he gets forward and sits back and protects the backline as well, and he passes the ball through the line very quickly," Merson told Sky Sports.

"I like Kovacic, but he will go over and dribble with the ball and people end up all out of position. Him and Bernardo Silva get just ruined in the last 30 minutes at Arsenal. If you take away the 30 minutes and first 20, City were very good at Arsenal. It was a good away performance. But that takes away the first 20 minutes when they could have been out of the game, and the last 30 minutes - so it's not much in between that.

"The issue is that Gonzalez comes in for £50m, as soon as Rodri's fit that's it. I don't think he plays. Unless you play them together and I don't think you need to. This is the problem with wages and buying players, you forget that by the start of next season, this guy is sitting on the bench with big money. You then look at McAtee with a brilliant young future and they will have to sell him for the fair play rules. It's a knock-on effect. If they buy Gonzalez, they must be panicking badly to get into the top four."

Meanwhile, former Tottenham manager Sherwood, added: "You can't compare the Portuguese league with the Premier League. It's a risk, especially in January. What exactly are City signing Gonzalez for? Unless you're going to brig in someone who is better than what you've got and will beat Real Madrid in a Champions League play-off game, other than that they've got nothing else to play for.

"They can't beat Real Madrid with the midfield they had yesterday. They have to find something different to that. But are they ever going to find someone good enough to do that in this transfer market? Absolutely not.

"Douglas Luiz would be the no-risk one because he knows the Premier League, but it looks like that is not going to get done. When everyone's fit, Gonzalez isn't going to play and they will ship him out again."