This is a transfer news story about Tottenham Hotspur winger Wilson Odobert. But it’s actually MORE a transfer news story about Manchester City’s Savinho… kind of. We know Spurs are interested in bringing in the 20-year-old Brazilian winger from City, we know that Savinho is open to the move to get first team minutes ahead of the World Cup, and we know that Pep Guardiola is okay with the idea of the club selling him to Spurs despite only buying him last summer.
But we also know that the transfer deal is being held up via a veto by someone high up in the City hierarchy, ostensibly because they don’t want a repeat of the Cole Palmer Situation™ whereby City sell a promising youngster to a league rival only for them to turn out to be extremely good. There hasn’t been a whole lot of movement on Savinho over the past couple of days, just a couple of thinly sourced reports that Spurs haven’t given up on the idea and are considering testing City’s resolve with a truly massive bid before the close of the window.
What does this have to do with Wilson Odobert? Well, it’s this — Savinho would likely waltz straight into the starting lineup at Tottenham should he come, Spurs are pretty packed with good players on both flanks at the moment, are looking for additional reinforcements in what’s left of the window, and Odobert is probably the odd man out. So enter the Italian media! Corriere dello Sport writes today that Roma are interested in a move for Odobert, whom Spurs apparently rate at €25m, as an alternative to Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho.
Now — this is the part where I tell you that you should always, ALWAYS be skeptical of the Italian media because the ratio of truth to chaff on the various Italian rumor sites is pretty low. But that said, if Tottenham are able to get Savinho’s transfer from City across the line, this is something that might make a lot of sense for Spurs to consider. It feels as though Thomas Frank has now had a good look at his attacking options and Odobert doesn’t appear to be very high in the hierarchy. To be sure there are plenty of games to come and if he stays Wilson will get playing time either as a substitute or a rotation option in injury and multi-week matches. He’s also only 20 so it feels foolish to give up on him. That said, the signs are pointing towards a reduced role and that’s BEFORE any more potential incoming players like Savinho or Maghnes Akliouche.
Roma apparently would be fine with taking Odobert on loan with a purchase option, but he’s listed in a group along with Monaco’s Breel Embolo (Remembering Some Guys), Chelsea youngster George, and Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli. So this is probably pretty unlikely already, and even more so if Spurs don’t happen to get Savinho.
In the end this is pretty thin gruel, but that said it’s always good to think of possibilities. It’s also a plausible outcome, if certain dominos fall a certain way. It might even be good for Wilson, assuming he’d come in and compete for first choice minutes at Roma. I’m not saying this is going to happen (it probably won’t) but it’s not the worst idea I’ve heard.