Couldn't we just "sell him" to Vitoria and loan him back with an obligation to buy. City can get away with selling Savio to Troyes (who never played a single game for them and they've been relegated) and was loaned out to Girona.
This is why PSR is complete bollocks, we're punished for having ambition. You don't see Liverpool or Arsenal having to sell Salah or Odegaard.