Pep Guardiola’s history of decisive player sales, like Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling, saw Jack Grealish depart Manchester City, and now Savinho’s struggling form suggests he could be the next to face Guardiola’s ruthless decision.
Manchester City are facing a significant transfer decision regarding Brazilian winger Savinho, with the 21-year-old reportedly keen on a move to Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports via Football FanCast.
Spurs have expressed strong interest in the former Girona star, who is said to be eyeing a permanent role as a Premier League mainstay ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with his agents attempting to facilitate a switch to North London.
Tottenham’s initial bid, which was reported to be just over £40 million, was rejected by City. The Premier League champions are holding out for a substantial fee, with reports suggesting their valuation of Savinho is north of £50 million and potentially as high as £67 million.
City sources are “adamant they do not want to lose Savinho,” who joined from CFG club Troyes for an initial £21m (rising to £33m).
However, Pep Guardiola reportedly does not want to keep unhappy players, and City will not stand in the attacker’s way should he express a desire to leave. This aligns with Guardiola’s recent comments on reducing the size of his squad.
The City manager commented on the squad dynamics amidst the transfer movement, stating:
“New players, I don’t think so. We need a little bit less. I don’t like (lots) of players. One reason we sent Vitor Reis to Girona is for that… We’ll see what happens and how we will handle it.”
Savinho, who registered three goals and 13 assists across 48 games last season, is viewed by Guardiola as having “enormous potential.”
Nevertheless, with the player pushing for an exit, City may ultimately elect to “cash in” on the attacker should Spurs meet their high asking price.