Florian Wirtz's parents met Manchester City officials on Tuesday during a flying visit as the race to land the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker heats up.
City have long since hoped to lure Wirtz to the club and are pressing ahead with attempting to secure a deal in light of Kevin De Bruyne's departure after 10 years at the Etihad Stadium.
Mail Sport revealed last week that City are awaiting news on discussions between the 22-year-old and his parents, Hans and Karin, over the direction of his career.
Wirtz is understood to have softened his stance on joining City in recent months and the Premier League appeals to the attacking midfielder.
His father is believed to favour a switch to Bayern Munich, who were last week growing increasingly confident of tying up a move.
Karin, his mother, is thought to have suggested remaining at Leverkusen for another year – although Xabi Alonso has now agreed to become Real Madrid's new head coach.
The family were in Manchester for a matter of hours but are not believed to have met Pep Guardiola, who is understood to been out of the region ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.
Pictures published in German newspaper Bild show both parents at Maastricht-Aachen Airport in the Netherlands on Monday evening after arriving back from a nine-hour round trip.
Wirtz has 33 goals and assists in 44 matches for Leverkusen this season and Real have been interested in the Germany international.
City's director of football Hugo Viana is working alongside the outgoing Txiki Begiristain during a handover period across the transfer window.
City are frontrunners to sign England's Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest during a summer rebuild and also like AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.