In the frenetic final weeks of the 2025 summer transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur’s bold pursuit of Manchester City’s dynamic winger Savinho has hit a brick wall, leaving fans and analysts buzzing with speculation. The 21-year-old Brazilian, who has expressed openness to a move to North London, was seen as a potential spark to bolster Spurs’ attack following a turbulent offseason. However, Manchester City, under the resolute guidance of manager Pep Guardiola, have firmly rebuffed Tottenham’s advances, signaling their intent to keep the versatile star at the Etihad Stadium for the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Savinho’s journey to this transfer saga is a tale of rapid ascent. After a standout 2023-24 season with Girona, where he netted nine goals and provided 10 assists in 37 La Liga matches, the left-footed winger joined Manchester City last summer in a £30.8 million deal from sister club Troyes. His debut season in England showed flashes of brilliance, with three goals and 13 assists across 48 appearances, primarily on the right wing. Yet, despite starting in high-stakes matches against Arsenal, Liverpool, and Real Madrid, Savinho struggled to replicate his Girona form, managing just one Premier League goal. The arrival of French winger Rayan Cherki and competition from stars like Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, and Oscar Bobb have raised concerns about his playing time, fueling rumors of his desire for a new challenge.
Tottenham’s interest emerged as a lifeline for Savinho, particularly after the departure of club captain Heung-Min Son to Los Angeles FC and a season-ending knee injury to playmaker James Maddison. Manager Thomas Frank, eager to inject dynamism into his squad, identified Savinho as an ideal fit. His versatility—capable of cutting in from the right or thriving on the left, where he excelled at Girona—made him a natural candidate to replace Son. Talks between the clubs gained traction, with Spurs reportedly tabling offers of €50 million (£43.3 million) and later €70 million, according to Savinho’s agent, Frederico Moraes. However, City have held firm, demanding a staggering €80 million or more for the Brazilian, who remains under contract until June 2028. “Man City want more,” transfer insider Fabrizio Romano noted, underscoring the gap in valuation that has stalled negotiations.
Guardiola’s stance has been unequivocal. Despite his policy of not blocking players who wish to leave, the Spanish tactician expressed a strong desire to retain Savinho, praising his potential. “The only thing I’m concerned about today is that Savinho will be with us all the season, and hopefully for many, many years,” Guardiola said before City’s Premier League opener against Wolves. “Because at 21-years-old with the potential he has, playing a lot of minutes, he has to improve in final decisions, he’s an extraordinary player.” The manager’s comments came amid reports of Savinho’s absence from the Wolves matchday squad, later attributed to a minor injury sustained in a pre-season friendly against Palermo, which will sideline him for a few weeks.
For Tottenham, the blocked transfer is a setback in their quest to rebuild an attack already bolstered by £120.3 million in summer signings, including Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha. The loss of Maddison, who suffered an ACL tear in pre-season, and the failure to secure Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White have heightened the urgency for a creative spark. Savinho’s potential arrival could have allowed Kudus to shift centrally into the No. 10 role, leveraging his experience there for Ghana and Ajax. Yet, City’s reluctance to sell—coupled with their strategic need to maintain squad depth after loaning out Jack Grealish to Everton—has quashed Spurs’ hopes. “City have too many non-homegrown players to register in their Champions League squad,” noted Manchester Evening News correspondent Simon Bajkowski, hinting at internal debates but affirming City’s high valuation of Savinho.
The saga has sparked debate among fans. Some Spurs supporters see Savinho as a risky investment given his modest Premier League output, while others view his youth and flair as a perfect fit for Frank’s high-pressing system. On the City side, fans argue Savinho’s potential outweighs the immediate need for a transfer, especially with Guardiola’s long-term vision. As the transfer window nears its September close, Tottenham may pivot to other targets, with Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze reportedly in their sights. For now, Savinho remains a City player, his future at the Etihad secured by Guardiola’s resolve and a hefty price tag that Tottenham couldn’t meet.
Leave a Reply