You decimated your wage structure multiple times already. You had to in order to sign players like Tevez, Yaya Toure, etc... I don't agree with the idea that you wouldn't have to or be willing to do that in order to convince Gotze to leave Dortmund and choose City over Europe's top clubs. Especially when you want to become one of those top clubs, but don't have that level history or prestige. It's so easily forgotten that City were willing to pay £100 million for Kaka. What do you think that would have done to the wage structure?
Which leads onto this:
If City want to compete with these clubs, then they can't just sit back and let them sign the best players in Europe. I think Robin Van Persie is the clearest example. And the management at City must know this. When you look at someone like Gotze, and the level he might be at in 2-3 years time, do you think they will be looking back and saying, "well we couldn't decimate our wage structure for him". I seriously doubt they are not doing everything they can financially to stop players like Gotze, or Cavani, or Neymar from choosing these other clubs over City. Because I seriously doubt these players are thinking about Manchester City unless you are offering more than these other clubs are.
