Savinho won’t make his Premier League debut this Saturday against Tottenham in the 2025/26 season. The 21-year-old Brazilian is still in Manchester City’s medical department after colliding with an opponent during a friendly against Palermo on August 9. It’s a frustrating absence for those who expected to see him right away in the English league, but the story around the forward stretches far beyond a simple injury. Tottenham are pressing hard to land him and are readying another bid worth €80 million after City rejected their first attempt.
Guardiola’s patience and the transfer stalemate
Pep Guardiola faced questions in his press conference about the future of Savinho and also defender Akanji. His reply was short and vague: “I don’t know about that. Nothing. They are our players and we’ll see what happens. I think some things will happen and then we’ll see.” On the surface it sounded routine, but it left plenty of room for interpretation. Guardiola knows the transfer market can still twist the season’s direction, yet he also made it clear the club isn’t rushing to offload youngsters he sees as valuable.
Savinho hasn’t played a single official game for City in this Premier League, but he’s already considered a strategic asset. The coach’s stance suggests a sale isn’t impossible, though it would only happen under the right circumstances and that’s exactly what keeps Spurs on alert.
Tottenham go big and gamble on the Brazilian
Tottenham’s interest is no accident. The board see Savinho as a rare kind of player: young, technical, dangerous in one-on-one situations and with a growing market profile, especially in England. The London side already made one approach, which City turned down. Now, with another €80 million bid on the table, the picture looks a lot more interesting.
The dilemma couldn’t be clearer. Selling him now would bring in a hefty sum and remove the risk of his value stalling. Holding on, though, might mean keeping a talent who hasn’t even shown where his ceiling is yet.