When it's a long-planned acquisition for an essential position where a price reasonably reflects the player's value to the selling club, absolutely, it's enraging when we haggle.Media says it’ll likely get done at £60m/€70m. Fans say « just pay the money ».
Unfortunately negotiations are dynamic. The selling club is always trying to receive as much as possible. If they quote a figure and you accept straight away then they will move the goalposts to squeeze a bit more from you.
Negotiations are a form of price discovery and a game. A prediction is not the same as a price.
Here though? City are bluffing their asses off. We're not even having this conversation if they hadn't already decided what they're going to do with the money. Pep wants Rodrygo, hold their feet to the fire.