It was an eventful summer transfer window for Tottenham Hotspur, to say the least. A number of “sagas” rumbled on, with mixed results: Morgan Gibbs-White stayed at Nottingham Forest after Spurs bid his release clause; Eberechi Eze seemed close to signing with Spurs before sensationally signing with North London rivals Arsenal; and a furor full of uncertainty around attacking midfield talent Xavi Simons resulted in Spurs landing their target over big spenders Chelsea.
One Spurs target it seemed the club were destined to get across the line but never did was Savinho. The Brazilian winger seemed incredibly close to signing a deal to head to N17, but reports indicated interference from Manchester City at board level prevented a deal from being completed, despite Spurs offering a hefty sum. By all accounts, Savinho was frustrated by City’s unwillingness to come to the table - especially in a World Cup year - indicating that there could still be an opportunity for Spurs to secure their target when the transfer window reopens in January (or beyond).
Not so, according to Fabrizio Romano:
Despite his chagrin at missing out on a move to Tottenham Hotspur, Savinho is reportedly in negotiations with City for a new contract - meaning a likely end to any future pursuit from Spurs, with the young Brazilian firmly out of their price range.
Savinho, I am disappoint.
Look, we don’t often like using Fab as a primary source for a number of reasons; one of which being he will apparently post pretty much anything fed to him by agents, whose agendas aren’t always aligned with factual reporting. It does though mean he gets a lot right, and it does seem notable that Romano is putting this out there; it’s in line with the sort of thing on which he tends to receive an inside scoop, and without the motivation to mislead or negotiate in the press. It just straight seems like if Savinho is going to be forced to stay at City, he may as well get paid.
I’m not going to lie; I would have loved to see Savinho in Lilywhite. I still would! I believe a player of his ilk starting on the left wing would really unlock the attack in this burgeoning Thomas Frank side, an attack that hasn’t exactly been fluid or productive, despite the encouraging results. If Frank still sees a starting winger as a need, however, it seems that Spurs will have to set their sights elsewhere.