Manchester City have ruled out big money moves for Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe before this summer's transfer window closes.
Director of football Txiki Begiristain says neither will move to City before the Aug. 31 deadline, but hasn't ruled out other deals happening.
Messi's contract extension remains unsigned and speculation has grown in Spain that he could be interested in reuniting with former boss Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
However, Begiristain ruled out paying the £275 million buyout clause which it would take to sign the five-time Ballon d'Or winner this season.
"Come on, it's impossible," Begiristain said. "He will stay at Barcelona."
Monaco's teenage striker Mbappe is a player City have been interested in signing, with reports suggesting he's set to leave the Ligue 1 champions after being left out of their opening games of the French season.
However, Paris Saint-Germain look his most likely destination, with City now out of the running before the window closes.
"We are out of the race -- it is impossible to do it with the time remaining," Begiristain said. "It will not happen, it is impossible.
"It's not our job to do it today or tomorrow. When you try to get those kind of players you have to move much earlier. It's impossible to do it now in the last days."
But City remain firmly interested in West Brom defender Jonny Evans as well as Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez.
And Begiristain admitted that they may try to do some business before the end of the month despite spending more than £200m already this summer.
"We can try to do some movement but now we are very happy," he said. "If something happens in the last days our job is always to be ready. If we think we can improve the squad, we will do it. As we are now, we are really happy."