‘I’m hearing’: Fabrizio Romano shares why Man City are now blocking Savinho’s move to Tottenham
Tottenham’s Pursuit of Savinho Hits a Wall as Manchester City Stand Firm
For much of the summer, it appeared only a matter of time before Savinho would swap Manchester City blue for Tottenham Hotspur white. The 21-year-old winger had been heavily linked with a move to North London, with reports suggesting that both he and Spurs boss Thomas Frank were eager for the deal to happen.
Savinho himself was said to be open to the transfer, attracted by the chance to work under Frank and play a more central role in Tottenham’s rebuild. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has a track record of sanctioning exits for players unsettled at the Etihad, which added to the belief that Spurs might finally secure the Brazilian’s signature.
But as the 2025/26 season gets underway, Savinho remains firmly a Manchester City player — and the situation has become far more complicated than many anticipated.
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Tottenham’s Growing Interest and City’s Reluctance
Thomas Frank is understood to be a long-term admirer of Savinho, viewing him as an ideal fit for the high-energy, attacking system he is trying to embed at Spurs. In fact, the club have already tested City’s resolve with a substantial bid in recent days, reportedly in the region of £60.4 million. Despite the offer, City’s hierarchy flatly rejected Tottenham’s approach, signaling that they have little intention of letting their young winger leave so easily.
What complicates matters further is that while Savinho would welcome the move, he has stopped short of forcing the issue. According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the player has not submitted a formal transfer request nor personally told Guardiola that he wants out. This leaves him caught in limbo — interested in a fresh opportunity in London but unwilling to sour relations with his current club.
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The “Cole Palmer Effect”
Romano went on to suggest that City’s hesitancy stems from what is being referred to as the “Cole Palmer effect.” Palmer, once a promising academy product at City, left for Chelsea in 2023 and has since blossomed into one of the Premier League’s standout young attackers. That decision to sell has not aged well in the eyes of City’s board, and they are reportedly determined not to repeat the same mistake with Savinho.
“There is someone very important at Manchester City blocking the deal,” Romano explained. “The club has seen what happened with Cole Palmer, and they don’t want to risk losing another player who could develop into a world-class talent elsewhere. Savinho has already shown flashes of brilliance, and the feeling inside City is that his ceiling is extremely high.”
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Why City Value Savinho
Savinho’s profile makes him an even trickier asset for City to part with. Unlike many of Guardiola’s current attacking options, the Brazilian is a natural right-winger, offering width, directness, and pace — traits that City have occasionally lacked since Riyad Mahrez’s departure. Guardiola himself has described the youngster as “incredible,” praising his technical ability and potential to become an elite player with the right development.
In his debut season at the Etihad, Savinho impressed in bursts, demonstrating not only flair but also tactical intelligence, which Guardiola values highly. While consistency remains a work in progress, the club sees him as a player who could take significant strides forward in the coming years if nurtured correctly.
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Tottenham’s Position
From Spurs’ perspective, missing out on Savinho would be a blow. After the departure of Son Heung-min and long-term injuries to creative forces like James Maddison, Tottenham are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements. Frank sees Savinho not just as another option, but as a potential marquee figure who could spearhead his project at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Danish coach is eager to secure young, hungry players who can both deliver immediately and grow into central figures for the team. Savinho fits that mold perfectly, which explains why Spurs are pushing so hard for the deal.
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What Happens Next?
For now, Manchester City’s stance is clear: Savinho is not for sale, regardless of Tottenham’s willingness to spend big. The club believes he can be developed into a key figure, especially with Guardiola viewing him as the only true right-sided attacker in the squad.
That said, the transfer window is unpredictable. Spurs are expected to keep pressing until the deadline, hoping that circumstances change or that Savinho himself eventually makes a stronger push to leave.
Whether he stays to fight for a place at City or forces through a move to Tottenham, the 2025/26 campaign could prove decisive for Savinho’s career. If he stays, he must seize the opportunity to prove that he belongs at the highest level under Guardiola. If he leaves, he could become the face of Tottenham’s new era under Thomas Frank.
One way or another, this transfer saga is far from over.