Senior Manchester City figure blocking Tottenham move for Savinho | OneFootball

A senior figure within Manchester City’s hierarchy is currently blocking a move for Savinho to Tottenham this summer, according to new developments.

Savinho has been one of the most discussed names in the summer window, with Tottenham pushing hard to sign the Brazilian winger in what could have been a club-record transfer in the eyes of many with knowledge of proceedings.

Spurs made their intentions clear early, tabling a €50 million proposal and holding discussions with Savinho’s representatives, while the player himself was open to a switch. But despite strong interest and player willingness, City’s hierarchy remain divided.

The 21-year-old’s rise to prominence came during his loan at Girona, emerging as one of La Liga’s standout attackers. His pace, technical quality, and versatility drew admiration across Europe, making him a prime target for Manchester City – who worked alongside their City Football Group colleagues at ESTAC Troyes to finalise a big-money move to the Etihad.

But Cole Palmer’s sale to Chelsea in 2023 has stayed fresh in the minds of City decision-makers, some of whom are now keen to avoid a repeat scenario with Savinho, having sanctioned Jack Grealish’s loan to Everton, James McAtee’s sale to Nottingham Forest, and Claudio Echeverri’s temporary switch to Bayer Leverkusen.

According to a new update from Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City are continuing to not accept Tottenham’s proposals over a deal for Savinho, with fresh details revealing a key figure within the Etihad Stadium behind an ongoing block on a move.

“As of today, there is someone specific, very important at Manchester City blocking the deal for Savinho to Tottenham. The player is keen on a move to Tottenham but the player is not breaking his relationship with Manchester City,” Romano revealed.

“The player is kind of positioned like, ‘OK, if I can go to Tottenham, I’m happy’, because Thomas Frank wants to make him one of the faces of the project, because he could play on a regular basis.

“So Savinho would like to go to Tottenham, but Savinho is not like, ‘Tottenham or nothing’. It’s not that sort of situation. Savinho is still respecting City, and there is someone in the management of Manchester City, the board of Manchester City with a strong desire to keep the player.

“Probably also because we all saw what happened with Cole Palmer. Man City did fantastic in these years in terms of transfer strategy, signings, sales and all the rest, but Cole Palmer to Chelsea remains something that is still in the eyes of people at Manchester City.”

Romano went on to explain, “For Savinho, there is someone at Manchester City believing that it could be the same case; Savinho is still very young, did quite well in the first season at Manchester City, still a lot of potential, a lot to develop, and so maybe someone at the club from what I’m hearing is still saying, ‘Wait, before selling Savinho he can still develop here’.

“Tottenham don’t want to give up, Tottenham still want to try, that’s what I can tell you today, but at the moment there is still no green light from Manchester City. Let’s see if they can reach an agreement.

“Obviously, if Savinho is not going to Tottenham, Manchester City are not going for Rodrygo.”

For Tottenham, the situation presents a difficult challenge. Spurs view Savinho as an ideal profile for their long-term rebuild under Thomas Frank, but City’s firm stance means the Premier League side may need to either raise their offer substantially or walk away.

For Pep Guardiola and City, keeping Savinho could prove a pivotal decision. The winger offers qualities distinct from Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden, and his retention ensures attacking variety in a season where squad depth will again be tested across multiple competitions.

As for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, the collapse of Savinho-to-Spurs effectively ends Manchester City’s chances of pursuing him this summer. Without a significant departure, Etihad bosses are unwilling to commit to a €100 million deal, leaving Rodrygo’s future in Madrid secure for now.