Manchester City are believed to be considering a £30m offer for Shaktar Donetsk midfielder Fred, as manager Pep Guardiola looks to secure his options from next season.
The Brazilian impressed Guardiola when the sides met in the Champions League group stages, and according to The Mail, Fred has been identified as the solution to City's ageing midfield.
Fernandinho is nearing the end of his career at the age of 33, while midfield partner Yaya Toure has entered the final months of his current deal at the Etihad Stadium.
The newspaper says that the club are prepared to wait until the summer transfer window, however, since midfield signings are not high on Guardiola's agenda.
Fernandinho, whose side face Bristol City in the EFL Cup semi-finals on Tuesday evening, has been a key man in City's unbeaten campaign.