Savinho's £70m Move to Tottenham Nears Completion
Tottenham’s long pursuit of Savinho is reaching its sharp end – and the pressure around the deal ratcheted up on Thursday.
The 22-year-old Brazil international was missing from Manchester City’s open training session, with the club stating he was absent through illness. On its own, that might have passed as a minor footnote in pre-season. It hasn’t.
Fabrizio Romano reported on X that Savinho has again told City this week he wants to leave and join Tottenham, reinforcing a stance that has been clear behind the scenes for some time. He wants north London. He wants Spurs.
Tottenham have been chasing the winger for over a year, failing to get him through the door last summer but refusing to let the trail go cold. This time, they are intent on finishing the job. Crucially, Roberto De Zerbi has signed off on the move, making Savinho not just a recruitment department favourite but a manager-approved target as he pushes for at least two new attackers before the 1 September deadline.
The outlines of the deal are now widely understood. A prominent Tottenham source on X has claimed in the last 24 hours that the transfer is expected to reach a positive conclusion within the next week, with a fee in the region of £70m being discussed.
There is, however, one familiar snag. City want a replacement. Romano has already suggested there is a “very good chance” Savinho ends up in a Spurs shirt, but the final green light may hinge on the champions securing someone to fill his squad spot – a scenario mirrored in their interest in another target, Cody Gakpo at Liverpool.
The £70m question
Tottenham have made it clear under De Zerbi that they are prepared to spend heavily to accelerate their climb back up the Premier League table after two grim seasons that ended in 17th place. The statement deals have already landed: Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali arrived from West Ham United and Newcastle United respectively for a combined £185m, fees that stunned several of their rivals.
Savinho, though, is a different kind of gamble.
City paid £30m to sign him from Girona two years ago. Since then he has featured 84 times for the eight-time Premier League champions, a solid volume of appearances but not the profile of an undisputed starter. His numbers are not explosive, and he never truly nailed down a guaranteed place under Pep Guardiola. New manager Enzo Maresca appears prepared to let him go.
That is where the debate starts. Does a player who has struggled to become a first-choice option at City justify a £70m outlay? In pure market terms, the jump from £30m to a potential £70m in two years, without dominant statistics to back it up, invites scrutiny.
Yet Tottenham are paying for something City know well: potential at the very top level. Savinho has trained and played in one of the most demanding environments in world football. The talent is there, the pedigree is there. What he has not had is the consistent, central role that Spurs are now willing to offer.
De Zerbi clearly believes he can unlock more. Regular football, a system tailored to his strengths and a manager who has personally endorsed the move could transform the winger’s output. That is the bet Tottenham are making.
Right now, on paper and in this market, it still looks like an overpay. Spurs are stretching for a player they have wanted for over a year, and City stand to more than double their money on a squad option.
The question is simple and brutal: will Savinho play like a £70m footballer when he walks out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, or will this become the deal that defines how far – and how hard – De Zerbi and Spurs are willing to push their rebuild?
