At first, Tottenham Hotspur fans were hoping for a big January transfer move for Bournemouth breakout superstar Antoine Semenyo. But after weeks from hearing from top transfer reporters in England that Spurs were among the finalists to land Semenyo with virtually all the Big Six of the Premier League interested, it did not take long for David Ornstein to definitively kill any hopes of a blockbuster Semenyo signing.
With Semenyo expected to join Manchester City from Bournemouth when the January transfer window opens up, Tottenham are having to pivot to other transfer targets. The main one next up on their wish list is a Man City player in Savinho, who was heavily linked to Spurs in the preceding summer transfer window.
But Savinho never came close to joining Tottenham, as Manchester City were unwilling to give up on Savinho and sell him directly to a Big Six rival. In fact, Man City actually signed him to a contract extension at the beginning of the season despite not starting him much.
It won't be easy for Tottenham
Savinho has not been impressive for Man City so far in 2025/26, but it sounds like the Tottenham fans who have seen the Brazilian as a slam dunk signing this January may want to readjust their expectations because Man City are remaining pretty stingy.
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano in an appearance on the Men In Blazers podcast, a Tottenham Hotspur January transfer swoop for Manchester City winger Savinho is "more complicated" than everyone is making it out to be.
Fab told fans, âNo, I think itâs more complicated to sign Savinho in January. In the summer, letâs see because we never know. But in January, I donât think Man City want to change anything in terms of Savinho situation as they recently signed a new deal with him. So I think they trust him for this season for sure.â
Savinho has only started about a handful of games for Manchester City on the wings this season, but he is still expected to cost around the 70 million euros that Man City were asking for him last summer, which is just about what Antoine Semenyo will cost on his release clause.