You might look at Tottenham Hotspur’s renewed interest in Manchester City winger Savinho as reheating an old rumor from last summer, but as far as I’m concerned the Bat Country gods can reheat this rumor multiple times and serve it up to me in a trough as the finest vintage transfer slop in the world. The latest, from Fabrizio Romano, suggests that negotiations are underway to bring the 22-year-old winger from Manchester City to North London, and that Savio wants to come.
I love it. This was the one signing I wish had gotten done last summer because Savinho is an outstanding prospect. It sure looked like he was on his way last summer before Manchester City pulled the plug after a couple of injuries, claiming they needed Savinho for depth. Then they basically parked him on the bench — he played only 821 minutes and scored his two goals in the EFL Cup against Huddersfield and Brentford.
None of this should be viewed as a knock on Savio, who is (still) one of the brightest young winger talents in the Premier League right now. The fact that City basically wasted a year of his development is stupid, and they’re dummies who should just sell him to us this summer as punishment for the crime of being stupid doody-heads.
Would I take Savio as Tottenham’s big winger signing this summer? You bet your ass I would. He’s got all the tools needed for success, he’s only 22, can play on either flank (and in the middle), and I think he would absolutely cook with good service under Roberto De Zerbi’s tactics.
There’s no mention of transfer fee, which I say suggests that this is the major sticking point in negotiations, but if it takes £50m to sign him, then Spurs should just do it. He has a higher pedigree than Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel and I would say a MUCH higher ceiling. What he needs is first team minutes, and there are few big clubs as prepared to offer them as Spurs this coming season. Let’s get this one through the door.