Tottenham Close In on Savinho Transfer from Manchester City
Tottenham are closing in on Manchester City winger Savinho in a deal that underlines just how aggressively the London club intend to reshape their attack – and it’s already forcing a reaction at the Etihad.
Spurs first pushed for Savinho last summer, testing City’s resolve with an offer that reached £60million. City held firm. They had no intention of cashing in on a 22-year-old they believed still had room to grow under Pep Guardiola, even as the Brazilian grew frustrated with his minutes and cast an eye towards north London.
He wanted to be central, not peripheral. Tottenham offered that. City did not.
The stalemate seemed to end when Savinho signed a new six-year contract at the Etihad, a statement deal that looked to shut down any exit talk. For a while, it did. The noise around him faded, the focus shifted elsewhere, and Spurs appeared to move on.
Then the pursuit quietly restarted.
Over recent months, Tottenham have gone back in hard, re-establishing contact and pushing to test City’s stance again. This time, the landscape is different. According to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, Spurs are now close to sealing Savinho for around £65m, with the player keen on the move and ready to agree personal terms.
The pressure has finally told.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has already made it clear where Tottenham’s priorities lie. He dismissed talk of a move for Napoli prospect Antonio Vergara, stressing that the Italian is not on the Spurs shortlist and is instead signing a new deal in Naples with a pay rise attached.
Vergara was never the plan. Savinho is.
“The player they want for winger position is Savinho,” Romano said, underlining that the Brazilian remains the club’s No 1 wide target.
City, sensing the deal edging towards completion, have started plotting their own response. Jones reports that they are now among the clubs tracking Paris Saint-Germain’s 18-year-old winger Ibrahim Mbaye, who has caught the eye with Senegal at the World Cup and is prepared to leave the French champions in search of regular senior football.
Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham and RB Leipzig are all monitoring Mbaye, who is now represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes. For City, he is one of several options as they prepare to “close the sale of Savinho to Tottenham for around £65million,” Jones writes.
City had previously explored a bold move for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo as a possible replacement for Savinho, but that trail went cold. Rodrygo stayed in Madrid. Savinho stayed in Manchester. Now one of those positions is changing.
Spurs choose their winger – and make a statement
If Jones’ information holds, Tottenham have not only raised their bid from last year but have also made a clear call on the profile of winger they want to build around.
They have looked at other names. Cody Gakpo was discussed, only for Liverpool to decide on Wednesday that he is going nowhere this summer as they look to deepen, not thin, their own wide options. Rafael Leao has also been on the radar, with AC Milan’s star forward giving the green light to a possible €50m (£42m) move, as revealed on July 5.
On paper, Leao at that price is a huge opportunity. A proven Serie A match-winner, willing to join, at a lower fee than Savinho.
Tottenham’s answer? Thanks, but no.
They are prepared to pay significantly more for Savinho, a player they see as the better fit for their long-term project, and one who has been waiting for his chance to step out from under Guardiola’s shadow and become a focal point rather than a rotation piece.
The deal is expected to move quickly. Savinho wants the move. Spurs want him as their primary winger. City are already scouting his successor.
Tottenham are not just buying a winger; they are choosing a direction. The question now is simple: will this be the signing that turns potential into genuine power in north London, or the one that defines just how bold they are prepared to be?
