Spurs have agreed a £75 million deal with Manchester City for Brazilian winger Savinho, with a further £10 million potentially payable in add-ons.
The 22-year-old is expected to undergo a medical before signing a long-term contract with Tottenham as the club continues its ambitious summer recruitment drive.
Savinho’s move to north London has been more than a year in the making. Tottenham attempted to sign the winger last summer, but he chose to remain at Manchester City and fight for his place under Pep Guardiola.
However, his opportunities were limited last season, with the Brazilian making only seven Premier League starts. Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi is now keen to strengthen his attacking options after the club spent heavily on midfielders Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.
Savinho’s arrival will take Tottenham’s spending this summer beyond £300 million, although the club has recouped about £140 million through the sales of Cristian Romero, Djed Spence and Luka Vuskovic.
The north London club is also expected to remain active in the transfer market, with talks over a potential move for Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush reportedly progressing positively.
Spurs also retain an interest in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, although financing deals for Gakpo, Marmoush and Savinho could prove challenging.
Savinho joined Manchester City from sister club Troyes for £30.8 million in 2024 after establishing himself as one of La Liga’s most exciting young attackers during a loan spell at Girona.
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His breakthrough 2023-24 campaign saw him help Girona secure Champions League qualification for the first time in the club’s history.
The winger featured in 37 league matches that season, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists across different attacking positions.
He led La Liga in several key attacking statistics, including successful take-ons, progressive carries, goal-creating actions and expected assists. He also ranked highly for passes into the penalty area and progressive carrying distance.
Most of his strongest performances came from the left wing, where he played 27 league matches, scoring five goals and providing six assists. He was also used centrally and, on the right, highlighting his versatility.
Savinho’s pace, acceleration and ability to beat defenders could make him an important addition to De Zerbi’s tactical approach. The coach’s teams typically seek to draw opponents forward before exploiting the spaces created behind defensive lines.
The Brazilian’s direct style and one-on-one ability could provide Spurs with another option when facing compact defences. From the left, he can attack defenders on the outside, while operating from the right allows him to cut inside onto his stronger left foot.
His contribution also extends beyond goals and assists. During his time at Girona, Savinho frequently carried the ball over long distances, disrupting defensive structures and creating opportunities for teammates.
Those qualities were less evident during his time at Manchester City, where competition for attacking positions was intense and players such as Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki were more suited to central roles.
Despite recording only seven goals and 13 assists in 84 appearances for Manchester City, Tottenham are investing heavily in the qualities he demonstrated in Spain: pace, ball carrying, creativity and one-on-one ability.
Savinho also signed a contract extension with Manchester City last October that was due to keep him at the club until 2031, but Tottenham’s sizeable offer could now bring his time at the Etihad Stadium to an end.
Spurs begin their Premier League campaign away to Brentford on Saturday, while Manchester City host Bournemouth on Sunday.
If the transfer is completed, Savinho will become another major addition to a Tottenham squad undergoing significant transformation ahead of the new season.
BBC
