Tottenham could revisit deal for a player from Premier League rivals whom they made several attempts to sign last summer.
Having broken their trophy drought and secured the Europa League title last year, there was a lot of expectation from Tottenham Hotspur to kick on and build on the momentum to have an even better season. And for that to happen, they needed to make the most of last summer’s transfer window.
The Lilywhites started well by signing Mohammed Kudus from London rivals West Ham. One other player that Tottenham wanted to sign and even made several attempts to bring him to N17 was Manchester City winger Savinho.
It was a shame from Spurs’ perspective with the way Manchester City went about blocking Savinho’s transfer to the North London club. He was also keen on a move to White Hart Lane after agreeing on personal terms with the Lilywhites. However, the deal failed to materialise due to Pep Guardiola’s late intervention, with the talented winger instead signing a contract extension to remain with Manchester City.
Manchester City prepared to listen to offers for Savinho amid Tottenham interest
Savinho has endured a frustrating season at the Etihad Stadium, spending the majority of the campaign either with an injury or on the periphery. Following the acquisition of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in the January transfer window, Savinho is no longer viewed as an important member of the Man City first team.
The 22-year-old’s performances have been inconsistent, and his playing time has dropped off in recent months, resulting in him missing out on a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad. It has now emerged that the Sky Blues are open to offers for the winger.
According to a report from ESPN Brazil, Man City are now prepared to discuss offers between £42m and £50m for Savinho. The decision has already been taken internally, and with Guardiola announcing his departure from the Etihad Stadium after a trophy-laden 10 years, the Cityzens want to move on the winger.
From being untouchable last summer to now being deemed surplus to requirements, City’s stance has very quickly changed on Savinho, who has managed only four goals and three assists in 35 matches this season. Also, with Guardiola leaving, the City bosses have already started putting plans in place for the potential new boss. The report adds that the Sky Blues feel they can get a decent fee by cashing in on the Brazilian international this summer, despite his hugely inconsistent displays.
What should be Tottenham’s play?
It is easy to understand why former Spurs boss Thomas Frank wanted to sign Savinho last year. After losing the talismanic Son Heung-Min, Frank naturally needed another disruptive winger to make Tottenham’s attack more unpredictable. Savinho, therefore, became a natural target for them, especially with the speed, elusive movement, dribbling ability and creativity that he showed in the last few years in the Premier League and La Liga.
However, with new boss Roberto De Zerbi at the helm now, it remains to be seen whether the North Londoners are still actively pursuing the Man City outcast. Certainly, the South American is only 22 and has big potential to unlock, so he’d represent a long-term signing if a deal happens. Plus, he is a versatile profile who can play in various attacking positions and would add a lot of value to the squad.
That said, should Spurs beat the drop, we must look to test City’s resolve for Savinho with an offer below £40m.